Take a look at some of the biggest talking points and stranger moments from the 2024 Brownlow Medal.
Angus Brayshaw's emotional speech
In unquestionably the most touching and emotional moment of the night, Angus Brayshaw made a speech to toast the retiring class of 2024. The former Melbourne midfielder had to call time on his career prior to the season, medically retired following multiple concussions over his 167 games. Brayshaw held it together, just, as he spoke about the "sadness, grief, uncertainty, anger and no doubt anxiety" that players face when they finish playing. He also mixed in some light-hearted humour, joking that he had just spoken to Dustin Martin prior to walking on stage and "I checked just before I came up here, and he's still retired".
BROWNLOW TRACKER Every vote for every player, as it happened
BROWNLOW HUB All you need for footy's night of nights
RECORD SMASHED Cripps makes history with second Brownlow win
CLUB BY CLUB Your leader, top five, total votes
BROWNLOW SHOCKS Surprise BOGs, perfect 10s but no votes
MARK & GOAL OF THE YEAR Pies high flyer, gun Eagle win
JIM STYNES AWARD Crow honoured for mental health advocacy
Ginni's revenge on the Pies
After playing in Collingwood's premiership team last year, Jack Ginnivan was traded to Hawthorn in one of the big off-season moves. With a flair for the dramatic, it was little surprise the small forward saved his best footy for his former club when the teams met in round 19. Ginnivan polled three votes for his 31 disposals – by far the most he's had in any of his 65 career games to date – and two goals in the 66-point thrashing.
The perfect 10 for Daicos
He went into the count as the joint favourite alongside Patrick Cripps and following a slow start – he didn't poll in Collingwood's first three matches - Nick Daicos got roaring through the middle and latter half of the season. In fact, between rounds eight and 18 (which included a bye), the little Magpie magician polled in a record 10 straight matches. There were four perfect three-vote performances, three twos and three ones. The problem was, while he was adding 21 votes in that span, Cripps was still adding 20 and running away with the lead. Daicos polled in 18 of his final 20 matches.
Chad not so sure about the umpires' call
It was a huge night for Sydney's dynamo Chad Warner, but not even he was sure about some of the umpire voting. After he was awarded one vote in the Swans' round three loss to Richmond, the cameras panned to Warner at Sydney's function to capture the midfielder pulling a confused face at what had just happened. For the record, he gathered 22 disposals that included two clearances and no goals as the Swans were on the wrong side of a huge upset.
One goal from 13 disposals, and the three votes goes to …
Harrison Petty. That's right, the umpires REALLY paid attention to a key forward in the round eight match between Melbourne and Geelong, with the Demon tall getting the maximum votes. Petty did have four contested marks in that game, but it's certainly unusual to have that stat line in an eight-point win and pick up the three votes.
Blake Hardwick breaks the drought
It took until his ninth season and 157th career game, but Hawk Blake Hardwick broke through for some votes in 2024. It came in the remarkable round 10 match against Port Adelaide, where the home team kicked two goals in the final 40 seconds to snatch victory. But Hardwick's performance should not be forgotten that day at Adelaide Oval, kicking four first-quarter goals and five for the game to grab two precious Brownlow votes.
Trac back to what he does best
After so much news following a tumultuous period of his life off the field, Christian Petracca's vote-getting reminded us just how good a player he is on the field. Although not present at the count, 'Trac' hit the lead following Gather Round where he polled three votes for his 29 disposals and a goal in Melbourne's win over Adelaide. He had 16 votes and was equal fifth overall when the horrific injury he suffered in the King's Birthday loss to Collingwood cut his season short.
Ineligible Heeney's record pace through 10 rounds
He was hyped as the likely runaway leader through the first half of the season and Isaac Heeney certainly caught the umpires' attention. Although ineligible to win after copping a one-match suspension late in the year, Heeney's final count was always going to be intriguing. He led with a record 21 votes through 10 rounds and then came to a virtual standstill before a late flurry got him to 28 and into the unofficial top five.
Movement on the all-time list
It wasn't his night, but two-time winner Lachie Neale has surged into the top-10 on the career vote list. The Brisbane midfielder's 22 votes moves him to precisely 10th spot with 209 votes. There's some big names just ahead of him as he approaches 2025 as well, with Chris Judd (210), Dustin Martin (213), Joel Selwood (214) and Robert Harvey (215) all in close proximity. Gary Ablett Jnr holds the record with 262.
How did the All-Australian key position players go?
On a night when midfielders again took the vast majority of votes, there was the odd key position star that polled well. Geelong's Jeremy Cameron finished with 16 to lead the big men, with Coleman medallist Jesse Hogan right behind him on 15. Fellow All-Australian Jake Waterman polled in four matches for struggling West Coast to finish with seven votes. Of the All-Australian defenders there was unsurprisingly a little less luck. Jacob Weitering and Jeremy McGovern missed out altogether, while Luke Ryan polled seven votes.