‘Looking outside': Call for key Brownlow change
Carlton star Patrick Cripps won his second Brownlow in 2024 with a whopping 45 votes, which was more than double the 18 Wanganeen won the award with in 1993.
The Essendon and Port Adelaide champion, who is supporting the 'Always respect, always DrinkWise' campaign ahead of Gather Round, is urging umpires to look outside of the engine room.
'My personal view, and I think it's a lot of people's view, they have to start looking outside the midfielders,' Wanganeen said.
The True Bloods crew join us to preview an epic Pies vs Swans clash!
'The forwards and the backs, those players play important roles in helping their team win games.
'A 40-possession game with a goal is a damn good game but a forward's 15 possessions with three goals is the equivalent to a 40-possession game.
'A defender who has had 15 possessions, with six intercepts and seven rebounds, who started chains to allow their team to score is equivalent to a 40-possession game – that's what they're not getting right.'
Wanganeen won the Brownlow, a premiership and All-Australian honours in one year as Essendon's reliable small defender.
He is strongly against umpires using statistics in the voting process, insisting players who impact a game should be prioritised over those who accumulate 'fluff possessions'.
'It's the quality of those stats, so there shouldn't be stats, absolutely not, stats should not be the priority,' he said.
'For instance, a 40 or 35-possession game; how many of those are actually effective? Half of those could be fluff possessions which are blindly banged off the boot.
'A forward getting 20 possessions, they're quality, damaging possessions. It's all about the quality, not the number.'
DrinkWise is promoting moderation in drinking at football matches and will have a large presence across this weekend's Gather Round.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Newsweek
4 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Yankees May Gain Edge in Pete Alonso Signing Due to Personal Link
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The New York Mets entered Monday having won two games in a row, which may not seem like much. But for a team that before beating the Seattle Mariners on Saturday and again on Sunday had lost 14 of its last 16 to fall from a 1 1/2-game lead in the National League East to a five-game deficit, any sign of hope is more than welcome. The Mets in the offseason doled out the largest contract in baseball history — $765 million over 15 years — to four-time All-Star outfielder Juan Soto on their way to running up the second-highest payroll in MLB at $339 million, per Fangraphs. NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 14: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets waves to the crowd after a pre-game ceremony honoring his franchise home run record before the game against the Atlanta... NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 14: Pete Alonso #20 of the New York Mets waves to the crowd after a pre-game ceremony honoring his franchise home run record before the game against the Atlanta Braves at Citi Field on August 14, 2025 in New York City. MoreAnd yet, with just 38 games left to play, their season is hanging on by a thread with just 1 1/2 games separating them from the Cincinnati Reds for the NL's third and final wild card spot. With the Mets' current desperation in mind, it becomes difficult to remember how reluctant they were in the offseason to re-sign their own four-time All-Star (now five, including this season), Pete Alonso. The team and slugger finally got a deal done in February, just before spring training. The contract covered just two years at $54 million — with the key being Alonso's ability to opt-out after this season. Where would the Mets be now, had Alonso not re-signed? Not only did Alonso set the all-time Mets home run record, belting his 253rd on Aug. 12, but his .871 OPS as of Monday is second on the team only to Soto's .881. No other Mets hitter tops .800. Gary Cohen getting to call Pete Alonso's record-breaking home run is just right, man. What a moment 🥹 — Rich MacLeod (@richmacleod) August 13, 2025 After this season, however, there remains a strong possibility that Alonso will be gone. But a personal link between the slugger and Hal Steinbrenner, owner of the New York Yankees, noted by New York Post MLB insider columnist Jon Heyman, suggests that the Mets' "Subway Series" rivals may have an edge in signing Alonso. "Alonso has a Bronx link because Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner, like Alonso, is a Tampa resident and University of Florida alum," Heyman noted. It should also be noted that Steinbrenner attended Florida as a graduate student, receiving a Master's degree in finance in 1994. Like his father, legendary Yankees owner George Steinbrenner, Hal Steinbrenner obtained his undergrad degree at Williams College, an elite but small liberal arts school in Williamstown, Mass. The younger Steinbrenner got his Williams degree in 1991. His father graduated in the class of 1948. As for Alonso, he played three seasons of college baseball at Florida, but was drafted by the Mets after his junior year in 2016. There is no public record showing that he actually graduated. More MLB: Pete Alonso Predicted to Bolt Mets on $240 Million Deal With Hated NL East Rival Would the Florida connection help the Yankees sign Alonso? Heyman didn't offer an opinion. But Pinstripes Nation scribe Sara Molnick filled in the blanks on Monday. "By noting the Steinbrenner connection, the respected insider reminded fans that relationships and familiarity can sometimes influence future decisions," Molnick wrote. "For a franchise like the Yankees, who never shy away from elite talent, such ties can prove meaningful if market conditions align." Like Tampa resident Steinbrenner, Alonso also lives in the city where he grew up in the offseason, though his home in Tampa suffered extensive damage due to Hurricane Helene last September. More MLB: Pete Alonso Predicted to Fire Agent Scott Boras After Signing New Mets Contract
Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Red Sox Expected to Quickly Cut Ties With Well-Traveled 7-Year Veteran
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. When Boston Red Sox first baseman Triston Casas stumbled running out an infield grounder on May 2, he ruptured the patellar tendon in his left knee — a season-ending injury. Right away, the Red Sox turned to a career journeyman infielder who signed a minor-league deal with the team in January. ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 30: Abraham Toro #29 and Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox react after a Red Sox challenge overturned the call on the field of Matt Olson #28 of the... ATLANTA, GEORGIA - MAY 30: Abraham Toro #29 and Trevor Story #10 of the Boston Red Sox react after a Red Sox challenge overturned the call on the field of Matt Olson #28 of the Atlanta Braves being thrown out at first base to end the seventh inning at Truist Park on May 30, 2025 in Atlanta, Georgia. More Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images Abraham Toro, a 2016 fifth-round Houston Astros draft pick, would be playing for his fifth team in seven seasons. But the switch-hitting second baseman who had played only 15 big league games at first base quickly took over from Casas and went on to win the hearts of the Fenway Faithful with a series of important hits, often in key situations. Respect to Abraham Toro. Man played the right way. Fought really hard and I'm sure he's having a tough day but if you're out there Abraham, know you earned my respect for way you competed and went about your business daily with everyone trying to openly ship you. 🫡 — Fenway Park (@JG18128910) August 18, 2025 As a first baseman, Toro wasn't spectacular, with a minus-5 defensive runs saved, but he at least held his own and didn't cause any disasters at the important position. But with the signing of another seven-year veteran first baseman, Nathaniel Lowe, on Monday, Toro appeared to be on his way out of Boston, likely before Boston's game against the Baltimore Orioles Monday night. His production had tailed off severely in recent weeks, with on OPS of just .507 in his last 21 games compared to a pre-All-Star break OPS of .739. The Red Sox reportedly were finalizing a deal Monday with Lowe, who was designated for assignment last week by the Washington Nationals. A career .771 OPS hitter with 105 home runs, including 16 in 119 games this season, Lowe was a 13th-round pick by the Tampa Bay Rays in 2016. More MLB: New Details Revealed on Red Sox's Effort to Communicate With Rafael Devers He saw limited action over two Tampa Bay seasons before becoming a full-time player with the Texas Rangers for four seasons. The Rangers traded him to Washington last December for southpaw reliever Robert Garcia. While Lowe has struggled to a mere .665 OPS this season, the 30-year-old's "down campaign is in line with Toro's career numbers since 2019, highlighting the talent and upside gap," wrote Fansided Red Sox correspondent Lior Lampert. "The former earned Silver Slugger honors in 2022 and a Gold Glove the ensuing season, helping the Texas Rangers win the World Series in 2023," Lampert continued. "Meanwhile, the latter is on his fifth club in as many years and fitting out rather than in." The Nationals will pay what's left on Lowe's $10.3 million contract, except for 40 days of MLB league minimum salary that the Red Sox must pay the 6-foot-4, 220-pound left-handed hitter, according to the Talk Nats online news account. More MLB: Controversial Red Sox 12-Time All-Star Slams Organization Over Rafael Devers Fiasco
Newsweek
32 minutes ago
- Newsweek
Rays All-Star Second Baseman Positioned as Likely Trade Candidate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Change could be coming for the Tampa Bay Rays in the offseason. Back-to-back disappointing seasons after five straight years of postseason baseball could lead the front office to focus on a rebuild. If that is the direction the Rays decide to go, a fan favorite and longtime second baseman could be at the forefront of trades. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 09: Brandon Lowe #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 09, 2025 in Seattle, Washington. SEATTLE, WASHINGTON - AUGUST 09: Brandon Lowe #8 of the Tampa Bay Rays hits a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning at T-Mobile Park on August 09, 2025 in Seattle, Report's Kerry Miller believes that second baseman Brandon Lowe could be a likely trade candidate in the offseason. "Quite simply, it's what the Rays do," Miller wrote. "They sign players to escalating contracts, milk the early years of said contract for all they're worth and then pass the buck to someone else willing to pay for the latter years in which the ROI potential is nowhere near as high." We've seen this in the past with Blake Snell, Tyler Glasnow, Isaac Paredes and more. It's rare for players to spend a majority of their careers with Tampa Bay due to the organizations willingness to move players each and every season. Lowe was drafted by the Rays back in 2015 and has spent all eight seasons of his career with the team. He's a two-time All-Star and has finished top 10 in MVP voting twice in his career. Throw the COVID-shortened 2020 season to the side and this year has been among the best of Lowe's career. He entered Monday with a slash line of .272/.318/.492 with 13 doubles, 24 home runs and 61 RBI. Very few players in MLB are as rock steady as Brandon Lowe. A 154 wRC+ since June 1st. The veteran has smacked 24 HR across 99 games this year…career fWAR 16.8 at 30 y/o. Not appreciated enough. — Sam Fosberg (@discussbaseball) August 14, 2025 Lowe has a $11.5 million club option for next season, and it is unclear if Tampa Bay will be willing to pick up that option. Picking up the option and still trading Lowe is certainly a route the Rays could choose. If they did, there should be plenty of suitors for the eight-year veteran. More MLB: Cubs' Kyle Tucker Makes Change After Hitting Career Low
