Overview

• New football boss Greg Swann said umpires will probably have match statistics when casting Brownlow votes next season, with details to be worked through in the off‑season.
• AFL CEO Andrew Dillon will reopen talks with the umpiring group after noting they declined stats access in recent years, and he floated officially acknowledging second and third place.
• Veteran umpire Simon Meredith welcomed the use of data to assist voting and said it would not have changed Matt Rowell’s deserved win, though it could help in contentious games.
• The push follows backlash to St Kilda’s Nasiah Wanganeen‑Milera receiving two votes rather than three for a 34‑disposal, four‑goal, match‑winning Round 20 performance against Melbourne.
• Officials stressed voting integrity remains strong, with potential procedural changes to be considered at the AFL Commission’s October meeting and no formal amendments yet approved.