Who's the unluckiest player to miss a flag or brownlow ...?

Question

As a Cat supporter the answer I always hear is G Ablett Sr. Admittedly, how he never figured in Brownlow votes was always a mystery (.. not that it would do him any good as he'd almost always been suspended at least once a year!)

But following dubya's questions, I do think the answer would be either a ruckman or a full forward. So counting Ablett out, I'd say Billy Brownless!

Your answers could include someone who was looking good but broke a leg too.

(And for our Sandgropers/Croweaters, I'll count Sandover and what's the SA medal is it Mulcahy or something?)

Answer 1

Yeah, Tony Modra.

Not that good looking but deserved to play in the grand final.

What about Nathan Buckley?

And it's the Magarey Medal!!!

Answer 2

Well I'll take this chance to renew my gripe about how only midfielders seem to win the brownlow. A half-decent midfielder has a better chance of winning than an absolute champion-best  to have played the game-non midfielder. No offence to Shane Woewodin but I would rather have Carey, Matthews, or Ablett in my team.

As for unlucky, you are a cats fan so you might know better than me but wasn't there some guy in the 50's who missed out on a grand final because he committed adultery. I think it was after their two flags so it must have been 53. No chance of knowing his name but I am pretty sure this is true.

Answer 3

Ron Barassi was unlucky not to win the Brownlow

Robbie Flower was  unlucky not to win a premiership medal.

Answer 4

I would have to say Corey McKernan in 1996 when he drew with the same number of votes in the Brownlow with James Hird and Michael Voss.He could not win due to suspension.

I was so upset for him.And he did look devastated.

That was unlucky.

Answer 5

The unluckiest player for me not to win a GF or Brownlow was Robbie Flower of Melbourne FC a true champion.

Answer 6

brownlow,id say Carey (seeing as hes rated one of the best chf to play the game)

Scott west,just on sheer consistency

and diesel Williams getting 43 touches and not a vote-joke should have had 3 medals

grand finals,Jason cloke missed his only opportunity to play in a granny ever at AFL level.

derrick kickett,sheedy robbed him of his chance after playing all year.

and young Blake this year for geelong-would it have made any difference,they should have let the kid play instead of an old hack like king.

Answer 7

Glen Archer - Nth Melbourne - great player, great guy, deserved a medal.

btw, Nathan Buckley did win the Brownlow (shared Ricciudo & Goodes)

Answer 8

Scott West from Footscray/Western Bulldogs comes to mind.

Answer 9

Chris Grant - Brownlow

Mark Blake, Derek Kickett - Grand Final

Answer 10

This would have to be K.B. Kevin Bartlett.

He played around 400 games, and shone at every match, and picked up votes.

Kev was always near the top of the tree when the votes   were read out, but you guessed it, a bridesmaid again.

What a player he was, and I'm not even a Tiger supporter.

I detect that Kev was just grateful to have played the game without being injured along the way.

Answer 11

Ray A,

Name all the great Catters that were in the side in 1967, 1989, 1992, 1994 (we had no chance vs. Carlton in 1995) that didn't get a premiership. I also agree with Robbie Flower, Derek Kickett, but I disagree about Mark Blake. Steven King had to be in the side, GFC couldn't afford school to be in session in ruck contests--Blake vs. Lade or Brogan.

Bad luck for Brownlow--Chris Grant, Garry Hocking.

Answer 12

The unluckiest players for me not to win a GF or Brownlow was Robbie Flower, Chris Grant, and Scott West.

and

Leigh Matthews for the Bronlow

Answer 13

the unlucikiest player to miss a flag:

robert harvey, the poor guy has been playing for more then twenty years and still hasnt got one. I was crushed to see him get so close in the two prelims the saints lost and he is obviously playing on in hope of one this year.

unluckiest plaer to miss a brownlow:

this was a tricky one, the immediate answer that springs to mind is scott west for the sheer volume of ball he gets and his good skills but perhaps he is not up there with the most dangerous and effective in the game. I would have to go with Wayne Carey, as, in his peak, he was undoubtedly the most dangerous and skilled player in the league.