• Brownlow tracker: Every vote, every club
• How the Brownlow Medal was won
• Gallery: All the best pictures from the Red Carpet

All Australian and best and fairest winner Rory Sloane polled 24 votes but was ineligible after serving a one-match ban for a hit on Port Adelaide's Brad Ebert in round 22. Rebounding defender Rory Laird received the maximum votes in two rounds and ended with 11 votes despite missing five games through injury, while small forward Eddie Betts polled 10 votes. The Crows ended the count with 87 votes.

Top five
24* - Rory Sloane
11 - Rory Laird
10 - Eddie Betts
8 - Josh Jenkins
7 - Matt Crouch 

For the second successive year, no Lion polled double figures. Captain Tom Rockliff led the club's Brownlow Medal count with nine votes despite missing five of the first 10 games through injury, while best and fairest winner Dayne Zorko was next with five votes. The Lions finished with just 20 votes – the lowest of any club.

Top four
9 - Tom Rockliff
5 - Dayne Zorko
3 - Pearce Hanley
3 - Mitch Robinson

Third-year midfielder Patrick Cripps took the honours for the Blues with 18 votes, which included three best-on-ground performances. The 21-year-old finished five votes ahead of midfielder Bryce Gibbs as the club's main vote-getters, while best and fairest Sam Docherty picked up just one vote. Carlton tallied 45 votes across the season.

Top five
18 - Patrick Cripps
13 - Bryce Gibbs
3 - Ed Curnow
3 - Kade Simpson
2 - Andrejs Everitt
2 - Sam Kerridge
2 - Dale Thomas 

Off-season recruit Adam Treloar capped his outstanding first year at the Magpies by gathering 21 votes, surpassing his career tally of 12. Skipper Scott Pendlebury (17 votes), ruckman Brodie Grundy and vice-captain Steele Sidebottom (seven votes apiece) rounded out the Pies' leaderboard, although the latter was ineligible after being suspended for two games early in the season. The Magpies polled 66 votes in total.

Top five
21 - Adam Treloar
17 - Scott Pendlebury
7 - Brodie Grundy
7* - Steele Sidebottom
5 - Taylor Adams

Adam Treloar and partner Kelsey Tomkins. Picture: AFL Photos

Best and fairest winner Zach Merrett was the only Bomber to poll double figures, but managed a very respectable 19 votes despite his side winning only three games. The 20-year-old was named best afield in three matches and polled votes in another five. Ineligible midfielder David Zaharakis received six votes, while forward Joe Daniher and retired 2008 Brownlow medallist Adam Cooney had four votes apiece. Essendon totalled 36 votes this season.

Top five
19 - Zach Merrett
6 - David Zaharakis
4 - Adam Cooney
4 - Joe Daniher
2 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti

Midfielder Lachie Neale, who broke the AFL record for most possessions in a home and away season, dominated the Dockers' count with 20 votes to finish in equal seventh place in the overall standings. Last year's Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe (four votes) was the next best Docker, picking up votes in two of his first five games before succumbing to a season-ending leg injury. Fremantle collected 45 votes in total.

Top five
20 - Lachie Neale 
4 - Nat Fyfe 
3 - Michael Barlow 
3 - Connor Blakely 
3 - Michael Walters 

Overwhelming favourite Patrick Dangerfield secured votes in 15 rounds, including nine best-on-ground performances, to claim his first Brownlow Medal, and in doing so, become the third Cat in 10 years to win the AFL's highest individual accolade. Dangerfield's tally of 35 votes was the highest in history, breaking Dane Swan's record of 34. Dangerfield claimed the lead for the first time of the night in round seven and was locked in a close battle with Sydney Swan Luke Parker. Captain Joel Selwood (18 votes) and Corey Enright (eight votes) were next for the Cats, who polled 84 votes in total. 

Top five
35 - Patrick Dangerfield 
18 - Joel Selwood 
8 - Corey Enright 
6 - Steven Motlop 
3 - Cameron Guthrie  

Patrick Dangerfield celebrates with wife Mardi. Picture: AFL Photos

Back-to-back best and fairest winner Tom Lynch confirmed his standing as one of the League's best key forwards, collecting an equal team-high 11 votes. Midfielder Aaron Hall (11 votes) made the perfect start, receiving three votes in the opening three rounds to surge to the lead. Superstar Gary Ablett (six votes) polled in four of his 14 appearances in a season savaged by another shoulder surgery, but the dual Brownlow medallist made history. Ablett's one vote in round one was the 100th game in which he has polled. In round three, Ablett equalled the all-time record set by Robert Harvey (101 games) and broke the record when he polled one vote in round 12, but was later trumped by Hawk Sam Mitchell. Ablett and Mitchell now sit atop the all-time leaderboard with 220 votes. The Suns gathered 45 votes in total. 

Top five
11 - Aaron Hall
11 - Tom Lynch
6 - Gary Ablett
5* - Steven May
3 - Michael Rischitelli
3 - Peter Wright 

Reliable midfielder Stephen Coniglio led the way for his club with 17 votes. Co-captain Callan Ward, who finished first on the Giants' Brownlow tally over the last two years, also featured prominently with 12 votes, while midfielders Dylan Shiel and Tom Scully had seven votes apiece. All Australian running half-back Heath Shaw polled his first Brownlow votes since 2012, recording just two votes for the night. The Giants accumulated 92 votes across the season – a club record. 

Top five
17 - Stephen Coniglio
12 - Callan Ward
7 - Tom Scully
7 - Dylan Shiel
6 - Toby Greene
6 - Ryan Griffen
6 - Josh Kelly  

Ever-reliable midfielder and proven vote-getter Sam Mitchell took the points for the Hawks for the second straight season, gathering 16 votes. Mitchell moved equal with Suns superstar Gary Ablett on top of the all-time list with 220 votes. He finished ahead of midfielder Jordan Lewis (11 votes) and defender Josh Gibson (10). The Hawks accumulated 73 votes across the season. 

Top five
16 -Sam Mitchell - 16
11 - Jordan Lewis - 11
10 - Josh Gibson - 10
8 - Shaun Burgoyne - 8
8 - Cyril Rioli - 8 

Premier big man Max Gawn, who was named the sole ruckman in this year's All Australian squad, topped the count for the Demons with 16 votes. Best and fairest winner Jack Viney wasn't far behind on 14 votes but was ineligible due to suspension, while captain Nathan Jones had 11 votes. The Demons collected 71 votes in total this season.

Top five
16 - Max Gawn
14* - Jack Viney
11 - Nathan Jones
6 - Jesse Hogan
6 - Dom Tyson
6* - Bernie Vince 

Max Gawn and partner Jessica Todd. Picture: AFL Photos

Out-of-contract midfielder Daniel Wells was the Kangaroos' leading player with 12 votes. Ruckman Todd Goldstein didn't reach the heights of last year's count – where he polled in nine of his 21 matches for 18 votes – but had 11 votes for the night, while forward Jarrad Waite was third on the club's Brownlow leaderboard with eight votes from his 14 matches. The Kangaroos tallied 63 votes this season. 

Top five
12 - Daniel Wells
11 -Todd Goldstein
8 - Jarrad Waite
7 - Jack Ziebell
6 - Sam Gibson  

Midfielder Robbie Gray, who claimed his third consecutive club best and fairest, was the Power's leading vote-getter with 19, polling maximum votes in four rounds. Gray was joined by fellow midfielder Ollie Wines (11 votes) as the only Power players to reach double figures. Port Adelaide ended the count with 64 votes overall. 

Top five
19 - Robbie Gray 
11 - Ollie Wines 
7 - Travis Boak 
5 - Aaron Young 
3 - Matthew Broadbent 
3 - Jarman Impey 
3 - Jasper Pittard 
3 - Chad Wingard 
3* - Jackson Trengove 

Maiden All Australian and best and fairest Dustin Martin again caught the umpires' attention with six best-on-ground performances to finish the count on 25 votes and in third place overall. The 25-year-old finished 16 votes clear of the next best Tiger, captain Trent Cotchin, on nine. Richmond tallied 52 votes for the night.

Top five
25 - Dustin Martin 
9 - Trent Cotchin 
7* - Alex Rance
4 - Ben Griffiths
3 - Brandon Ellis
2 - Jack Riewoldt 

Dustin Martin stormed home to finish third overall. Picture: AFL Photos

Skipper Nick Riewoldt was the Saints' highest vote-getter with 19, which included four best-afield performances. After winning his third best and fairest, hard-running midfielder Jack Steven was recognised for his consistent season, collecting 16 votes. The 26-year-old surpassed his previous best Brownlow tally of 12 votes set last year. The Saints finished with 76 votes across the season. 

Top five
19 - Nick Riewoldt
16 - Jack Steven 
10 - Sebastian Ross 
9 - Tim Membrey 
7 - Leigh Montagna  

All Australian Luke Parker was the competition's fast starter, polling votes in five of the first six rounds to hold the outright lead. The 23-year-old was locked in a tight tussle with Patrick Dangerfield for the entire night – they were tied on 20 votes apiece after round 15 – and finished runner-up to the superstar Cat. Fellow All Australians Dan Hannebery (21 votes), Lance Franklin (17) and Josh Kennedy (14) helped the Swans collect 105 votes for the night – the most of any team. 

Top five
26 - Luke Parker 
21 - Dan Hannebery 
17 - Lance Franklin 
14 - Josh Kennedy 
12 - Tom Mitchell 

The Sydney Swans contingent at the SCG. Picture: AFL Photos

Midfielder Andrew Gaff stole the show for the Eagles with 21 votes, polling the maximum votes in six rounds to end the count in equal fourth place overall. Fellow onballer Matt Priddis, the 2014 Brownlow medallist and last year's runner-up behind Nat Fyfe, received 17 votes and tied with Coleman medallist Josh Kennedy. Midfielder Luke Shuey, who hadn't reached double figures in the past three seasons, picked up 10 votes. The Eagles gathered 83 votes overall. 

Top five
21 - Andrew Gaff 
17 - Josh Kennedy 
17 - Matt Priddis 
10 - Luke Shuey 
5 - Mark LeCras 

For the second successive year, superstar Marcus Bontempelli took the honours for his club and finished the count with a career-high 20 votes, which included five best-on-ground efforts. Midfielder Lachie Hunter, who was in equal fourth spot on the Brownlow leaderboard after round 12, was the next best Bulldog with 13 votes, while speedster Jason Johannisen was in the club's top three players with 10 votes, despite missing nine games with a hamstring injury. The Bulldogs polled 81 votes in total.

Top five
20 - Marcus Bontempelli 
13 - Lachie Hunter 
10 - Jason Johannisen 
7 - Luke Dahlhaus 
6 - Koby Stevens