Fyfe’s strife sees Mitchell’s firm for Brownlow

HAWTHORN ball magnet Tom Mitchell is the new $3.25 favourite at online bookmaker Sportsbet to win this year’s Brownlow Medal after the Fremantle Dockers failed to overturn previous market leader Nat Fyfe’s one week suspension.

Fyfe, who was sighted for a head-high hit on Collingwood’s Levi Greenwood, challenged the AFL’s one match ban but were unable to successfully argue the elbow was unintentional.

According to match review officer Michael Christian, the hit on Greenwood wasn’t acceptable.

“A raised forearm or elbow is usually conclusive that it is intentional,” Christian said.

“The circumstances around this (are) the ball goes over Nat’s head, he runs at Greenwood and jumps off the ground and raises his forearm and makes forceful contact to Levi’s head.”

The win leaves Mitchell, who was second in last year’s count, at the head of affairs after being at the $5.50 quote prior to Fyfe’s suspension.

Last year’s winner Dustin Martin is on the second line of betting at the $5.50 mark while star Bulldog Jackson Macrae ($8 at Crownbet) is the only other player in single figures for the 2018 Brownlow Medal.

The market and the punters both agree that it is Mitchell’s Brownlow to lose at this point.

Sportsbet holds almost three times the amount of money on the man they call Titch as they do for Dustin Martin, and Sportsbet representative Will Byrne believes there will be plenty more money to be invested on the prolific Hawk.

“Mitchell finished second to Martin last year, but has been in great form for the Hawks so far this season. Martin dominated the vote last year, but according to punters Mitchell is the one to beat and is a commanding favourite.”