BRISBANE star Lachie Neale is tipped to cap a sensational and prolific season in the Lions midfield by claiming the game's highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal, on Sunday night.
Neale is tipped to poll 25 votes in AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor, which should see him fend off competition from Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak (21 votes) and Melbourne powerhouse Christian Petracca (18 votes) to take home the coveted award.
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The diminutive onballer averaged 28.6 disposals and kicked 11 goals throughout the home and away season, with the Brownlow Predictor tipping that he will subsequently poll votes in 10 of 17 matches.
BROWNLOW PREDICTOR Every game, every vote
Neale is also expected to poll maximum votes in six matches to finish two games clear of Boak in second place. Petracca is predicted to finish third, while Dustin Martin is fourth and Patrick Dangerfield and Jack Steele are tied for fifth.
Despite his dominance, the Brownlow Predictor has tipped an entertaining count on Sunday night, with Neale and Boak expected to be separated by just two votes heading into the final round.
However, Neale is predicted to score two votes from Brisbane's victory over Carlton, while Boak is tipped to miss votes despite Port Adelaide's win against Collingwood. It should be enough to see the Lions star edge clear.
Victory on Sunday night would be Neale's first Brownlow Medal, having tied for third last season with 26 votes. He also recorded another top-10 finish while with Fremantle in 2016, polling 20 votes on that occasion.
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor
25 Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
21 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
18 Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
15 Dustin Martin (Richmond)
14 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
14 Jack Steele (St Kilda)
Sportsbet Odds
$1.25 Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
$7 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
$8 Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
$13 Jack Steele (St Kilda)
$21 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
$21 Jack Macrae (Western Bulldogs)
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor – after round five
10 Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
9 Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
7 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
7 Dylan Shiel (Essendon)
7 Chad Wingard (Hawthorn)
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor – after round 10
17 Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
11 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
10 Max Gawn (Melbourne)
9 Dustin Martin (Richmond)
9 Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor – highest polling first-year players
9 Matt Rowell (Gold Coast)
5 Noah Anderson (Gold Coast)
5 Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
4 Tom Green (Greater Western Sydney)
2 Jake Riccardi (Greater Western Sydney)
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor – highest polling defenders/ruckman/forwards
Key defender: Luke Ryan (Fremantle) – 7 votes
Small defender: Caleb Daniel (Western Bulldogs) – 9 votes
Ruckman: Nic Naitanui (West Coast) – 13 votes
Key forward: Tom Hawkins (Geelong) – 12 votes
Small forward: Toby Greene (Greater Western Sydney) – 10 votes
AFL.com.au's Brownlow Predictor – highest polling former winners
15 Dustin Martin (Richmond)
14 Patrick Dangerfield (Geelong)
11 Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
9 Tom Mitchell (Hawthorn)
7 Trent Cotchin (Richmond)
