In Brownlow Medal voting, an “X” next to a player’s name usually means that player is ineligible to win the medal , even though they may still be polling votes on the count.

Quick Scoop: What the “X” Means

When you see the leaderboard or a betting/vote-tracker graphic and a player has an “X” by their name, it typically indicates:

  • The player has been suspended during the home-and-away season by the AFL Tribunal.
  • Because of that suspension, they are not considered “fairest” and therefore cannot win the Brownlow, regardless of how many votes they poll.
  • They can still be read out on Brownlow night and appear in trackers, but they’re marked as ineligible with an “X” or similar symbol.

Think of it as a visual flag: “Yes, this player is polling well, but they’re not actually allowed to take home the medal.”

Why Ineligibility Matters in the Brownlow

The Brownlow is officially for the “fairest and best” player, with a big emphasis on fair.

  • Field umpires give 3, 2, and 1 vote after every game to the players they thought were best on ground.
  • If a player is suspended for an offence that attracts a suspension (not just a fine), they become ineligible for the medal that season.
  • They still receive and appear with votes in the count; they just cannot be declared the winner if they finish on top.

A classic example scenario people talk about: a star mid tops the votes but had a one-week suspension in June – he’ll appear high on the tally, but the medal goes to the next eligible player under the rules.

Extra Context: How Trackers Show It

Modern TV graphics, AFL apps, and betting/brownlow trackers often use:

  • An “X” beside the name.
  • Or a different colour / small icon.

All of these are doing the same thing: signalling Brownlow ineligibility due to suspension , so fans don’t get confused if an ineligible player finishes with the most votes on screen.

TL;DR: In Brownlow graphics and discussions, the “X” next to a player’s name is a shorthand that the player is suspended and therefore ineligible to win the Brownlow , even though they might still be polling plenty of votes.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.