The Brownlow Medal count has become universally regarded as a midfielder’s award during the modern era, due to the fact that no key position player has won the coveted prize since St Kilda legend Tony Lockett saluted in 1987.

In the 30 years since that memorable night, superstar onballers have not only won the game’s most prestigious individual accolade but also filled up the bulk of the spots immediately below the winner.

And this year’s count was no exception with Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy and All-Australian Lance Franklin finishing equal 14th on 17 votes and the game’s premier defender, Alex Rance, polling only seven votes despite a stellar season.

Saints champion Nick Riewoldt was the only key position player to finish inside the top-ten, although despite kicking 41 goals, he spent the majority of his time this season playing on a wing and shouldn't technically be classified as a key forward this season.

Budding Gold Coast superstar Tom Lynch was the next best placed key position player behind Kennedy and Franklin, registering 11 votes to narrowly shade one of St Kilda’s most improved players, Tim Membrey.

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Having never previously kicked more than two goals in any of his 13 games prior to this season, Membrey rose from anonymity to stardom in 2016, kicking more goals than any other player at Linen House Centre, with 44.18 from 17 appearances.

If we don’t classify Riewoldt as a key position player this year, Membrey polled the fourth most votes of any key forward in the AFL, further emphasising the quality of his breakout season.

The 22-year-old polled in four games, earning one vote for his eye-catching five-goal return against Melbourne in Round 6, before receiving another two votes after kicking another five against Carlton in Round 12.

Membrey, who finished ninth in the 2016 Trevor Barker Award, then earned two best on grounds in the closing stages of the season, with the first three vote effort coming in Round 17 following a four-goal haul against Melbourne, before he added another set of three in Round 20 when he put five goals past Carlton – his fourth bag of five goals for the year.

Most votes by a key forward in the 2016 Brownlow Medal:

Nick Riewoldt 19*
Lance Franklin 17
Josh Kennedy 17
Tom Lynch (Gold Coast) 11
Tim Membrey 9
Josh Jenkins 8
Jarrad Waite 8
Taylor Walker 6
Tom Lynch (Adelaide) 5

*Riewoldt divided his time between a wing and inside forward 50 this year, but predominantly played through the midfield.

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