A WIDE-OPEN race for the Brownlow Medal sees the top 15 players separated by just three votes, as per the AFL.com.au predictor.

At the halfway mark of the home and away season, Geelong superstar recruit Patrick Dangerfield shares pole position with Sydney Swan Luke Parker, on 12 votes.

• Who's leading your club's count? Check out AFL.com.au's Brownlow predictor

Dangerfield is CrownBet's favourite for the award.

Parker is the third-most likely to win according to the bookmaker, with teammate Dan Hannebery on the second line of betting.

Trailing the front-runners by one is resurgent Carlton midfielder Bryce Gibbs.

Immediately behind him are: West Coast's Luke Shuey, Cats skipper Joel Selwood, Western Bulldog wingman Lachie Hunter and Melbourne cult hero Max Gawn.

Gawn's influence this season has been critical to the Demons' vastly improved play.

Not many forecast him in this sort of form though – Gawn was $251 to win the Brownlow at the start of the year, and was $67 on Monday.

Hunter finished last season with a strong run of form and has continued in that vein, averaging over 31 disposals per game.

The Bulldog was initially considered an even more unlikely Brownlow chance than Gawn – he opened 2016 at $501.

As of Monday, Hunter was $34.

On nine votes is a cluster of players: Todd Goldstein, Nick Riewoldt, Rory Sloane, Dylan Shiel, Callan Ward, Stephen Coniglio, Lance Franklin and 2014 Brownlow medallist Matthew Priddis.

• A short history of the Brownlow Medal