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IF YOU needed any further evidence to appreciate why Patrick Dangerfield is the raging favourite for the Brownlow Medal on Monday night, here it is. 

According to Champion Data, the Geelong superstar produced a better season than Fremantle champion Nat Fyfe's record-breaking 2015.

It's a big call, given that reigning medallist Fyfe was so dominant last year that he amassed an unprecedented 29 votes after 13 games – a purple patch that included a jaw-dropping nine best-on-grounds.

However, Champion Data's player rating algorithm placed considerably more value in Dangerfield's 2016 output (20.3) compared to Fyfe's 2015 (18.8).

Brownlow favourites denied

Such matters will be cold comfort to the former Crow, who continued his prolific form in the finals but was unable to lift the Cats into the Grand Final.

In his first season at Geelong, Dangerfield was ranked in the top 10 in all the key statistical categories for midfielders, except for kicking, with his efficiency 0.4% below the AFL average.

But when you win the bulk of your possessions in contested situations, you won't always have the time or space to execute with precision.

Ditto Fyfe, who was rated a less effective kick (-4.2%).

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Most strikingly, Dangerfield was well ahead of Fyfe in metres gained (617 to 397) and inside 50s (8.0 to 4.4), largely because he uses his scintillating pace to explode away from congestion and carry the ball.

However, Fyfe more often got his hands to the ball first at stoppages.

Regardless, these modern-day greats have enjoyed two of the best individual seasons by midfielders in recent memory. At times, they were unstoppable.

Dangerfield: You can't say that, can you?

Choosing which of them had the better year is a bit like deciding who won their epic duel at Adelaide Oval in round nine last year.

Refreshingly, the late Crows coach Phil Walsh and Dockers counterpart Ross Lyon let their big-bodied, contested-ball beasts go head-to-head.

In slippery conditions, Fyfe had 40 possessions (26 contested), 14 clearances, 10 inside 50s, three contested marks, six tackles, kicked 1.1 and handed off another goal, while Dangerfield had 38 possessions (29 contested), nine clearances, six inside 50s, three contested marks, eight tackles and also contributed 1.1.

The umpires privileged to preside over their enthralling battle awarded three votes to Fyfe and two to Dangerfield. But there couldn't have been much in it.

Oh, and Freo won a low-scoring game by 11 points.

Adding to the throwback nature of the duel, Walsh said post-match: "One thing fans love is those great battles — and (Dangerfield v Fyfe) was a great example of that. Everyone walking away (from the game) would have talked about Fyfe v Dangerfield."

Some of us still are.