Carlton coach Michael Voss believes the AFL should refrain from tinkering with the Brownlow Medal criteria amid calls to change the eligibility rules to allow suspended players to stay in contention.
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Voss, who shared the 1996 Brownlow Medal with Essendon's James Hird, is the first high-profile AFL identity to push back on reviewing the AFL's highest individual honour.
It comes after Sydney star Isaac Heeney's hopes of winning the Brownlow were crushed after he failed to overturn a one-game ban at the appeals board on Thursday night.
Just three days before Voss spoke, Blues captain Patrick Cripps called for the AFL to review the medal at season's end, saying he felt sorry for Heeney.
The Brisbane legend is uniquely placed to comment, with North Melbourne's Corey McKernan missing out on sharing the 1996 Brownlow in a three-way tie with Voss and Hird due to suspension.
The following year, Western Bulldogs star Chris Grant was ineligible despite polling one more vote than eventual winner, St Kilda's Robert Harvey.
"It'd want to be a pretty convincing argument change," Voss said on Friday.
"We all have our unique awards, they're all different.
"We've got our MVP, (voted on by) your peers and you've got your coach's award and you've got your media awards, and this is the Brownlow and we accept that there's rules around that.
"You acknowledge there's been some changes in the interpretation of some of those rules, probably stricter ones.
"But I don't mind the concept that it has its own unique place and as players were asking players to adapt, and I think they just need to adapt."
Heeney has vowed to make this season "a special one" despite his one-match ban for striking St Kilda's Jimmy Webster being upheld.
"I'm obviously extremely disappointed with that result," Heeney said in a video statement released by the club.
"It's pretty shattering, to be honest."
Heeney will miss Sydney's clash with North Melbourne at the SCG on Saturday as the ladder leaders attempt to arrest a two-match losing skid.
He will then be free to return against the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in round 19, with plenty of time to tune up for the Swans' premiership push in September.
"I can guarantee one thing - that when I'm back I'll make sure that I do this club proud, the supporters proud and my family proud," Heeney added.
"It starts this weekend. I obviously won't be on the footy field but I'll be there to support the boys and the coaching staff and the staff at the club here.
"Then obviously I want to flow on from that and make sure this year's a special one."
Western Bulldogs coach Luke Beveridge declared Heeney "unlucky".
"The way he plays, he's such an honest ball player, very courageous," Beveridge said on Friday.
" ... Just looking at the incident I don't think he intended to whack anyone or anyone head high.
"So for me, because he didn't intend to and it was a bit of an accident, even though the swinging arm was there, he's unlucky."
Australian Associated Press
