Someone call 000.

Under the bright lights of the Crown Palladium on Monday night, Jeremy Howe was robbed of Mark of the Year.

Has there ever been a greater injustice in Brownlow Medal history?

Credit where credit is due. Joe Daniher’s mark over St Kilda defender Jake Carlisle was an impressive leap.

And if Howe didn’t exist, there’s every chance Daniher would be the best high-flyer in the game. The 23-year-old Bomber has been nominated for Mark of the Round more than almost anyone else in recent years.

ALMOST anyone else.

Howe’s Melbourne former teammates can attest for this more than most.

As if years of soaring over them during training wasn’t enough, the former Demon took not one, but TWO outstanding marks against Melbourne in 2017.

And when Howe reached for the sky on top of former teammate Tom McDonald on Queen’s Birthday, the football community watched in amazement.

“That’s just an incredible leap,” Tim Watson pointed out during Channel 7’s call of the game.

Brian Taylor added his own unique flavour to the commentary – “Jeremy Howe, you are an absolute freak machine. Unbelievable.”

While Watson and Taylor had a good view from the media box, there were others even closer to the incredible feat.

“I was just maybe four or five metres in front of it,” Melbourne captain Nathan Jones said at the time.

“That was easily the best if you ask me.”

From one captain to another, Scott Pendlebury couldn’t think of a more impressive mark during his time in the game.

“It was probably the best mark I’ve ever been involved with playing a game of football,” the skipper recalled.


THE REACTION
It’s fair to say Monday’s Mark of the Year decision was met with feedback swift and strong.

Twitter exists for moments like these, and reactions on the social media platform didn’t disappoint.

 


 


 


 


 


A HIGH-FLYING NATURAL
Howe’s been leaping as long as he’s been playing. As a tattoo-less 21-year-old, he used West Coast’s Mitch Brown as a stepladder while playing just his tenth AFL game for Melbourne.

Since he’s been nominated for Mark of the Week a whopping 30 times. Need to put that into context? The next best is Richmond’s Jack Riewoldt who has 20 nominations since Howe’s been in the game.

While this year’s grab may well be remembered as his defining hanger, an extraordinary effort against Sydney in 2012 saw the defender awarded the Mark of the Year of the year honour.

But was it better than this year’s screamer? Watch below and then cast your vote.




BIG-MARKING MAGPIES
As a Collingwood supporter growing up in Tasmania, Howe was treated to Chris Tarrant constantly climbing to unrealistic heights. Since the Mark of the Year award was established in 1970, Tarrant is one of seven Magpies to have taken home the main prize.

Collingwood’s Mark of the Year winners
1973 – Alan Atkinson (Round 21 vs Hawthorn)
1974 – Billy Picken (Round 9 vs Richmond)
1976 – Billy Picken (Round 16 vs St Kilda)
1984 – Dennis Banks (Round 10 vs Footscray)
2003 – Chris Tarrant (Round 18 vs Geelong)
2011 – Andrew Krakouer (Round 9 vs Adelaide)
2013 – Jamie Elliott (Round 14 vs Port Adelaide)

One thing is for certain. We know Howie will keep leaping. Which means we just need to keep voting. And hopefully this time next year we'll have another Mark of the Year winner to celebrate.



The moment in question. Jeremy Howe's Round 12 is captured perfectly by the team at AFL Photos.