Goodes won the medal in 2003 and 2006 but if anything, his 2009 season so far has been better than those celebrated years.
Punters are also excited at the prospect of Goodes claiming a third medal. Despite his team losing to Hawthorn last Sunday, Goodes sizzled into the fourth line of betting at TABSportsbet.
He is now rated a $9 chance behind only Gary Ablett, Chris Judd and Joel Selwood.
And there is good reason to suggest the flood of money for versatile Swan is well-founded.
Statistics show that Goodes has won more of the football in 2009 than in either of his medal-winning years. More importantly, he has made opposition teams pay when he has gained possession.
In just 11 games this year, he has booted 20 goals – just five short of the 25 he kicked when he won the ’06 medal by three votes.
A third medal would elevate him to exalted company alongside club great Bob Skilton, who won three medals in 1959, '63 and '68.
It would also maintain the versatile big man’s pattern of one ‘Charlie’ every three seasons.
Swans assistant coach John Longmire is happy with Goodes consistency but believes his best patch of football actually came in a non-Brownlow year in 2007.
Longmire, who has been part of Paul Roos’ staff since 2002, said Goodes was red-hot during a purple patch at the end of that season.
"I know that wasn’t his Brownlow year, but the back end of 2007 was probably the best footy I’ve seen him play," Longmire said on Thursday.
“While he’s probably not at those heights [at the moment], he’s certainly been a really consistent performer for us.”
Longmire also says Goodes has improved as the 2009 season has gone on.
“I think he started the season a little bit slowly but the last month he’s played some really good footy for us,” he said.
While Ablett, Judd and Selwood appear to be his main competitors for the medal, they have the disadvantage of playing in stellar midfield groups.
Goodes is the dominant figure at the Swans, and appears to have far less opposition for votes.
And his extra goalkicking in 2009 could be just the trick that gets him over the line a third time.
Longmire said the Swans had made a conscious decision to use their champion midfielder closer to goal.
“He’s probably played forward a little bit more than what he has previously,” Longmire said.
“I think that he and Ryan O’Keefe have been able to share the workload in between forward and midfield … and that’s probably culminated in Goodesy being able to kick more goals.”
ADAM GOODES – TRIPLE TREAT
2003
Games: 24
Disposals: 431 (average 18 per game)
Goals: 20
Brownlow votes: 22 (tied 1st)
2006
Games : 25
Disposals: 521 (average 20.8)
Goals: 25
Brownlow votes: 26 (1st)
2009
Games: 11
Disposals: 237 (average 21.5)
Goals: 20
* In 2007, Goodes received 20 Brownlow votes and in 2008 he polled 21 votes.
