How the Brownlow medal is decided has come under fresh scrutiny after a controversial vote at the 2025 count on Monday left those in the audience at the glitzy ceremony in Melbourne visibly stunned.
Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera’s outstanding individual performance during St Kilda’s remarkable round 20 win over Melbourne was widely hailed at the time as the greatest of the season – and perhaps even the best seen in recent memory.
Yet when AFL CEO Andrew Dillon read out the results, which gave the young Saints star just two votes instead of the expected three, there were audible jeers of derision from the crowd.
Wanganeen-Milera appeared surprised, but afforded himself a wry smile, while others around the room, including Max Gawn and Christian Petracca on the Melbourne table, could only laugh out loud at the decision to give their teammate Jack Viney three votes instead.
Brownlow polling is in the hands of the field umpires, who allocate their 3-2-1 votes at the end of each game. The officials, who have a different view of the game to those watching from other vantage points, are not permitted to review player stats before they do so, nor change their votes once submitted.
Wanganeen-Milera was the architect of a scarcely believable 46-point turnaround in the game against Melbourne, having 34 disposals, nine score involvements and six clearances, and kicking four goals, including two in the final 10 seconds. Viney had 23 disposals and 16 tackles.
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Dane Swan labelled the decision “the worst in the history” of the prestigious award, while 2008 Brownlow winner Adam Cooney said this “might be the last year the umpires get to do it”.
The GWS Giants posted “Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera not getting three votes is crazy work”. Former player Jude Bolton also expressed his disbelief, posting: “You don’t get Rossy Lyon putting you on his shoulders at the after party … and miss out on the 3 votes! NWM single handedly dominated that game v the Dees.”
Wanganeen-Milera, who signed a bumper $2m a year deal to stay with St Kilda after his heroics in July, finished equal ninth in the Brownlow count. The 2025 medal was claimed by Gold Coast Suns’ Matt Rowell, a surprise winner ahead of Collingwood’s Nick Daicos. Geelong’s Bailey Smith and Jordan Dawson of Adelaide rounded out the top four.
