Cripps Calls for AFL Brownlow Eligibility Change Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has reignited the debate surrounding the eligibility criteria for the AFL’s coveted Brownlow Medal. Currently, players must have played enough games to qualify for the award, and must not have received suspensions totaling more than four matches. Cripps believes that this criterion should be revised to allow players who have missed games due to injury to still be eligible. “I think it’s unfair that players who have played the majority of the season and have been performing at a high level can miss out on the Brownlow simply because they’ve had an unfortunate injury,” Cripps said. The issue gained prominence in 2020 when Richmond’s Dustin Martin was ruled ineligible for the Brownlow after missing several games due to a hamstring injury. Despite leading the league in votes until that point, Martin was unable to win the award. Cripps’ proposal has received mixed reactions from other players and industry figures. Some support the idea of amending the eligibility criteria, arguing that it would reward consistent performance and recognize the challenges that players with injury histories face. Others, however, contend that the current system is fair and that players who play the majority of games should have a greater chance of winning. They also argue that it could be difficult to determine the appropriate number of games that a player should play to be eligible. AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan acknowledged that the issue was a topic of discussion, but did not indicate whether any changes were being considered. “We’ll continue to have dialogue with the players and the clubs about this and other issues,” McLachlan said. The Brownlow Medal is one of the most prestigious individual awards in Australian sport, with the winner receiving three votes from the umpires in each game. It is considered to be the most accurate measure of the league’s best and fairest player.Brownlow Eligibility Review Urged by Brownlow MedallistBrownlow Eligibility Review Urged by Brownlow Medallist Carlton captain and 2022 Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps has called for a review of the award’s eligibility rules, following the suspension of Sydney star Isaac Heeney. Heeney, a top contender for the Brownlow, faces a one-game ban for striking St Kilda defender Jimmy Webster, making him ineligible for the award. In 2022, Cripps faced a similar scenario, missing out on the Brownlow due to a suspension. Cripps believes the eligibility criteria need to adapt to modern standards of the game. “Little incidents” related to head protection should be taken into consideration, he said. He expressed sympathy for Heeney and believes that players who have had great seasons should not be penalized for such minor infractions. Sydney coach John Longmire also defended Heeney, stating that his action was not malicious or intentional. Adelaide star Izak Rankine is also facing the tribunal for his rough conduct suspension, with the club hoping to downgrade the penalty to careless. St Kilda coach Ross Lyon also believes Heeney’s incident was accidental, and Heeney immediately checked on Webster after the incident. Should Sydney fail to clear Heeney at the tribunal, or downgrade the charge to a fine, he will become ineligible for the Brownlow. The review of the Brownlow eligibility rules will be conducted at the end of the season.Australian Football legend Mark ‘Coupla’ Cripps has called for a change to the eligibility rules for the AFL’s highest individual honour, the Charles Brownlow Medal. Currently, only players who have played at least half of their team’s games during the regular season are eligible for the award. Cripps, who played 306 games for the Adelaide Crows and West Coast Eagles, believes this rule should be changed to allow players who have missed games due to injury to be eligible. “I think it’s unfair that players who have been injured and missed games are ineligible for the Brownlow,” Cripps said. “These players are often the best players in the competition, and they should be rewarded for their efforts, even if they have missed a few games.” Cripps’ call comes after several high-profile players have missed out on the Brownlow in recent years due to injury. In 2020, Richmond’s Dustin Martin missed the award despite finishing equal second in the voting. Martin had missed three games during the season due to a hamstring injury. In 2021, Carlton’s Patrick Cripps missed the Brownlow after finishing equal third in the voting. Cripps had missed four games during the season due to a groin injury. The AFL is yet to respond to Cripps’ call for a change to the eligibility rules.