AFL CHIEF executive Andrew Demetriou says the league will not consider making any changes to the eligibility criteria of the Brownlow Medal.
There have been minimal changes to the AFL’s ‘best and fairest’ award since its inception in 1924, but the league has been under pressure from some quarters this season to alter its eligibility after stars like Lance ‘Buddy’ Franklin, Daniel Kerr, Robert Murphy, Shaun Burgoyne and Brett Burton were ruled out through mostly minor indiscretions.
On Monday, Chris Judd revealed he’d like to see the Brownlow awarded to the best player in the competition, regardless of suspensions, but Demetriou said the traditional values of the medal would be upheld.
"We can kill that one, that'll stop a bit of talkback for the next two weeks,” Demetriou said in Adelaide on Friday.
“The Brownlow Medal is one of the most time-honoured sporting awards I can think of in the world and, certainly in this country, everyone who knows the Brownlow Medal knows what it stands for.
“Despite the fact some players will be ineligible this year, that's been the case since the inception of the medal, so sorry to disappoint you again, but no changes to the Brownlow Medal.
“We’ll leave it as it is and, whoever wins it this year, I'm sure we'll all be congratulating the most deserving player winning the medal again this year.”
Demetriou also quashed suggestions the AFL would look at raising the number of demerit points to constitute a reprimand.
Franklin’s high hit on Adelaide’s Michael Doughty was not considered serious enough to warrant a ban, instead he was offered a reprimand, but nonetheless, the Hawthorn superstar is now ineligible to win the game’s highest individual honour in 2008.
"I think that (points cut off for Brownlow eligibility) was looked at by (AFL general manager, football operations) Adrian Anderson and his team 12 months ago and they were satisfied with where it was,” Demetriou said.