Ryan always enjoyed the three-way post-game discussion - devoid of statistical influence - in which umpires who'd been encouraged to come at voting "from all angles" would thrash out the three, two and one. If they have latterly favoured midfielders, Ryan thinks this simply betrays the fact that modern football's prime movers are enjoying the sort of golden age that key forwards and ruckmen had in the past.

"You hear coaches say there's no genuine full-forwards anymore, they play the position differently, they're not the key targets they used to be, and they're not dominating the scoreboard like they used to," Ryan says. "But that said, in my time I know Jonathan Brown polled really well, Nick Riewoldt has polled really well, Warren Tredrea.

"Coaches say the game's won and lost in the midfield at the moment. We came out of an era of champion full-forwards - (Jason) Dunstall, (Tony) Lockett, (Gary) Ablett. Perhaps we're just in an era of champion midfielders."

Now 39 and embarking on a comeback to senior ranks, Ryan says he favoured players whose influence - even in bursts - was deemed the difference between the two teams. Other umpires might prefer a less spectacular four-quarter performance; it might take half an hour to arrive at consensus, but he is confident the right outcome is achieved.

"We encourage umpires to see it differently, it means we're coming at it from all angles. If there's three different views as to how to choose the best players, it gives you a more informed result.

"My view is influence: a player who might not have played four really strong quarters, but who swung the game and won it. If he kicked five in the third quarter in a close game, and it was the clear decider between the two teams, that's where I'd go."

Ryan doesn't believe the umpires miss much by not consulting statistics before casting their votes. "Where do you stop with stats? If a guy's had 38 possessions, are they then going to tell you how many contested? How many hard-ball gets? How many were efficient stats? It could go on forever.

"Generally by the end of the game you've got a fair idea who's had a lot of the ball. You certainly know who's influenced the game."

Contemplating an alternative system, Ryan says the argument of "sticking with tradition" has no appeal - "I'm not a big one for that, if something's not working you change it." Rather, the lack of an alternative method that boasts the independence of umpires casting votes is more salient.

"I don't think there's a massive discrepancy between who the general public and the media perceive to be the best players, and the Brownlow winner. And I'm not sure who else could do it."

Umpires boss Wayne Campbell agrees, and says if somebody proposed a better system, the game would be duty-bound to look at it. "But every time you get to that step they go, 'Hmmm, there's not a better way to do it.'

"It would become a different award - the great thing about it is it's been done this way for nearly 100 years, it's stood the test of time, it's full of prestige and esteem, and we don't think it's broken. We think they do an outstanding job."