Following the club’s on-field success, a number of Swans are likely to poll strongly in this evening’s 2013 Brownlow Medal Count, with All-Australian trio Dan Hannebery, Kieren Jack and Jarrad McVeigh likely to lead the way.
Ahead of this evening’s count, sydneyswans.com.au takes a closer look at the Swans players who have the best Brownlow chance and which games we expect to see votes fall their way.
Dan Hannebery
In just his fifth year in the league, Dan Hannebery enjoyed his best season to date and has been a standout midfielder for the Swans in 2013.
The 2010 AFL Rising Star winner produced his most consistent season, averaging an impressive 25.2 disposals for the year and produced a number of stellar individual performances.
The 22-year-old enjoyed a terrific stretch of form early in the year, including winning the ANZAC Medal for his best on ground performance in round five against St Kilda at Wellington’s Westpac Stadium.
A 27-disposal, four-goal performance in round eight against Fremantle kicked off a purple patch of form for the young midfielder, who went on to collect 31 disposals and two goals against Collingwood in round nine and a career-high 42 disposals and one goal in round 11 against the Adelaide Crows.
Hannebery also produced one of his best games for the year over at Perth’s Patersons Stadium against West Coast, where he collected 40 disposals and kicked two goals in the Swans’ 34-point win.
Hannebery played all but one game for the season, having missed the round 23 clashes with Hawthorn with a knee injury.
Hannebery’s season in stats:
21 games, 250 kicks, 70 marks, 297 handballs (sixth in the AFL), averaging 11.9 kicks, 3.3 marks, 14.1 handballs. 16 Goals, 13 Behinds. 70 Clearances, 77 inside 50m, 27 Rebound 50m. 59 Tackles.
Hannebery’s games to watch:
R5 v St Kilda – 30 disposals
R6 v Brisbane – 32 disposals, 1 goal
R8 v Fremantle – 27 disposals, 4 goals
R9 v Collingwood – 31 disposals, 2 goals
R11 v Adelaide – 42 disposals, one goal, 7 inside 50s
R17 v West Coast – 40 disposals, 2 goals
Kieren Jack
In his first year of co-captaincy at the club, Kieren Jack led from the front throughout the season.
In his first game as co-captain, Jack produced a stellar effort against GWS at ANZ Stadium in round one, collecting 25 disposals and kicking three goals to take out the Brett Kirk Medal for best on ground.
The All-Australian midfielder will battle Hannebery for top votes in the Swans round six clash against the Brisbane Lions, which saw the 26-year-old notch up 29 disposals and five tackles at the SCG.
A 31-disposal, one-goal performance against Melbourne at the MCG in round 15 was among Jack’s best for the year, while his performance against the Western Bulldogs in round 19 was equally comprehensive, when he collected 30 disposals and kicked two goals.
Jack also averaged 25.2 disposals for the season and was ranked first in the competition for inside 50s with 126 and finished third in the AFL for tackles with 145.
The co-captain also stamped his authority as one of the club’s most dangerous forward options, kicking 22 goals for the year, which saw him ranked fifth at the club for the season.
Jack was also the Swans’ best performer in this year’s AFL Coaches Association Player of the Year Award, with the midfielder finishing in fourth place having led going in to the penultimate round of the season.
Jack’s season in stats:
22 games, 305 kicks, 45 marks, 253 handballs, averaging 13.9 kicks, 2.0 marks, 11.5 handballs. 22 Goals, 14 Behinds. 111 Clearances, 126 inside 50m (First in the AFL), 27 Rebound 50m. 145 Tackles (third in the AFL).
Jack’s games to watch:
R1 v GWS – 25 disposals, 3 goals
R6 v Brisbane – 29 disposals, 5 tackles
R15 v Melbourne – 31 disposals, 1 goal
R19 v Western Bulldogs – 30 disposals, 2 goals
Jarrad McVeigh
Fellow Sydney Swans co-captain Jarrad McVeigh played a number of roles throughout 2013 and was one of the club’s most influential and versatile players.
McVeigh began the season in an attacking midfielder role – leading the club’s goalkicking after five rounds - before moving onto the halfback line following a spate of injuries to senior players.
In his attacking role, McVeigh showed his knack in front of goal with a 27-disposal, four-goal performance against the Gold Coast Suns at the SCG in round two.
The All-Australian continued his excellence the following round and was one of the catalysts in the Swans’ second half comeback against North Melbourne, finishing the match with 28 disposals and two goals.
After shifting to a more defensive role, McVeigh was outstanding against GWS in round 16, collecting 35 disposals and narrowly missed out on the Brett Kirk Medal behind fellow half-back Nick Malceski.
In the final five rounds of the home and away season, McVeigh was consistently among the Swans’ best players, with the 28-year old averaging just shy of 30 disposals (29.4) between rounds 19 to 23.
McVeigh’s season in stats:
22 games, 353 kicks (seventh in the AFL), 86 marks, 245 handballs, averaging 16.0 kicks, 3.9 marks, 11.1 handballs. Sixth in the AFL in total disposals. 13 Goals, seven Behinds. 61 clearances, 79 inside 50m, 80 rebound 50m. 75 tackles
McVeigh’s games to watch:
R2 v Gold Coast Suns – 27 disposals, 4 goals
R3 v North Melbourne – 28 disposals, 2 goals
R4 v Geelong – 27 disposals – 3 goals
R16 v GWS – 35 disposals
