Rebounding defender Rory Laird rocketed up the vote count early, amassing a career-high 12 votes by round 9. A broken hand slowed him somewhat, but he still finished the count in equal-sixth place with 19 votes, the highest-ranked defender. Bryce Gibbs picked up at Adelaide where he left off at Carlton, picking up his nine votes relatively early in the count, while accumulator Matt Crouch finished in third for the club with eight. The Crows had 15 players poll votes.

Top five
19 – Rory Laird
9 – Bryce Gibbs
8 – Matt Crouch
6 – Rory Sloane
5 – Taylor Walker*

Total votes – 69

Dayne Beams had a tough year off the field with his father passing away and electing to step down from the captaincy, but on the field he excelled. Beams finished equal-eighth in the count with 18 votes, far and away the highest of the 11 Lions who polled. Bizarrely enough, he didn't poll a vote in a match against North Melbourne when he finished with 32 disposals and five goals. Key forward Eric Hipwood finished with six, as did star midfielder Dayne Zorko. No.1 draft pick Cam Rayner picked up three votes in a best-on-ground performance against Hawthorn.

Top five
18 – Dayne Beams
6 – Eric Hipwood
6 – Dayne Zorko
5 – Stefan Martin
3 – Cameron Rayner

Total votes – 45

Former skipper Dayne Beams topped the Lions' count after a difficult year. Picture: AFL Photos

It was the Cripps and Curnows show for Carlton at the Brownlow. Bullocking midfielder Patrick Cripps dominated the Blues' count, finishing fourth overall with 20 votes in a season when the team only won two matches. He had more votes than the rest of the team combined. Ed Curnow maintained the sibling order, shading younger brother Charlie four votes to three, while the evergreen Kade Simpson polled six, including a best-on-ground performance in his 300th match. He is one of three players to do so, with St Kilda's Stewart Loewe in 2001 and Adelaide's Tyson Edwards in 2009 also completing the feat.

Top five
20 – Patrick Cripps
6 – Kade Simpson
4 – Ed Curnow*
3 – Charlie Curnow
2 – Marc Murphy

Total votes – 37

Midfield bull Patrick Cripps led the way for the Blues. Picture: AFL Photos

This season has seen classy midfielder Steele Sidebottom get the recognition he deserves, both from the public and the umpires. Before this year, he had never polled more than 14 votes in a season but finished second overall with 24 votes. Star ruckman Brodie Grundy was a pre-count favourite and raced home to finish with 17 votes in equal-10th. Rising Star winner Jaidyn Stephenson polled just two votes, while Friday night's preliminary final hero Mason Cox showed he is at home on the big stage, polling his three votes in the Queen's Birthday match against Melbourne.

Top five
24 – Steele Sidebottom
17 – Brodie Grundy
15 – Scott Pendlebury
12 – Jordan De Goey
8 – Adam Treloar

Total votes – 96

It was a comparatively low tally night on the votes front for the Bombers. The usual suspects led the way, with captain Dyson Heppell topping the club's count with 13. Devon Smith was one of the recruits of the season, but wasn't quite recognised by the umpires, finishing with 11. Zach Merrett roared home with 10 after a slow start to the year, while key forward Shaun McKernan polled his first vote in his 10-year career in round nine. 

Top five
13 – Dyson Heppell
11 – Devon Smith
10 – Zach Merrett
7 – Michael Hurley
6 – David Zaharakis

Total votes – 65

Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe was once again Fremantle's leading vote-getter, dominating early to finish with 16 votes despite being ineligible after a suspension. The high-flying Michael Walters, who was nominated for the Woolworths Mark of the Year, started strongly with six votes by round five, but polled just two more for the season. Giant ruckman Aaron Sandilands also featured, while Adam Cerra picked up three votes in round 12 despite teammate Brennan Cox getting a Rising Star nomination (and one vote).

Top five
16 – Nat Fyfe*
11 – Lachie Neale
8 – David Mundy
8 – Michael Walters
5 – Aaron Sandilands

Total votes – 56

Cats champion Gary Ablett ticked a few things off on Monday night. The star midfielder became the first player to poll a Brownlow vote against every club in the AFL; and he also became the undisputed top vote-getter of all time, surpassing Gary Dempsey. Patrick Dangerfield finished the season strongly to be Geelong's leading vote winner, while Tim Kelly polled 13 votes in his first season in the AFL. All Australian defender Tom Stewart polled just four votes on the night.

Top five
17 – Patrick Dangerfield
14 – Gary Ablett
14 – Joel Selwood
13 – Tim Kelly
9 – Tom Hawkins*

Total votes – 88

The Suns may not have had a high total of votes (only 31), but they shared them around. Twelve players polled, with midfielder Brayden Fiorini and former co-captain Tom Lynch finishing first with five votes apiece. Touk Miller picked up two votes for his tagging effort against Lion Dayne Zorko in round five. Lachie Weller was judged best afield in the Suns' best win for the year against Sydney.

Top five
5 – Brayden Fiorini
5 – Tom Lynch
4 – Touk Miller
3 – Jarrod Harbrow
3 – Lachie Weller

Total votes – 31

Befitting of a Ferrari, the Giants' prime movers all polled well. Power runner Lachie Whitfield topped the club with 16 votes (including three lots of three votes), finishing equal 12th. Fans were furious when Stephen Coniglio wasn't named in the All Australian squad; the classy midfielder polled 11 votes. The talented Josh Kelly finished with 10 votes from just 15 games, while Brett Deledio polled his first votes in the charcoal and orange, a best-on-ground effort in the round five draw with St Kilda.

Top five
16 – Lachie Whitfield
13 – Callan Ward
11 – Stephen Coniglio
10 – Josh Kelly
10 – Dylan Shiel

Total votes – 76

There's a reason Tom Mitchell was the heavy favourite going into Brownlow night, and his ball-winning ways certainly caught the attention of the umpires. Jaeger O'Meara also went well, while Jack Gunston was rewarded for an impressive season. The ruck exploits of Ben McEvoy sometimes go underrated, while onballer Liam Shiels and backman James Sicily were alongside the big man. There were 10 Hawks to poll, adding up to 90 votes.

Top five
28 – Tom Mitchell
13 – Jaeger O'Meara
10 – Jack Gunston
8 – Ben McEvoy
8 – Liam Shiels
8 – James Sicily*

Total votes – 90

Prolific Hawk Tom Mitchell was a deserving winner of the 2018 Brownlow Medal. Picture: AFL Photos

The shock of the night was midfielder Angus Brayshaw ending third, despite missing out on AFL selection in the opening three rounds of the season and not being invited to the Brownlow. Ruckman Max Gawn made his charge late but gave up too much of a lead. His fancied teammate Clayton Oliver finished with a tally of just 13. There's plenty of life left in co-captain Nathan Jones, who was the fourth-highest polling Dee, while gun forward Jesse Hogan was fifth. In total, 15 Melbourne players tallied 93 votes.

Top five
21 – Angus Brayshaw
20 – Max Gawn
13 – Clayton Oliver
7 – Nathan Jones
5 – Jesse Hogan

Total votes – 93

It wasn't a great surprise to see the Roos' one-two midfield duo of Shaun Higgins and Ben Cunnington leading their count. Similarly, it was hardly shocking that forwards Jarrad Waite, Jack Ziebell and Ben Brown were next, considering how influential that trio was. Ruckman Todd Goldstein was alongside Brown on six votes. There were 13 Roos to get votes from the umpires, for 68 votes.

Top five
15 – Shaun Higgins
11 – Ben Cunnington
7 – Jarrad Waite
7 – Jack Ziebell
6 – Ben Brown
6 – Todd Goldstein

Total votes – 68

Inside beast Ollie Wines wasn't really spoken about as a contender but started well and was in the early running. Superstar Robbie Gray was the next highest-polling Power player, while North Melbourne-bound wingman Jared Polec finished third. Veteran Justin Westhoff picked up votes early while Sam Gray and Chad Wingard were equal-fifth. Port had 15 from its side accumulate 62 votes.

Top five
14 – Ollie Wines
8 – Robbie Gray
7 – Jared Polec
5 – Justin Westhoff
4 – Sam Gray
4 – Chad Wingard

Total votes – 62

Last year's winner Dustin Martin was never in the hunt, finishing nine votes behind winner Tom Mitchell. Kane Lambert can no longer be underrated, considering he was named in the Virgin Australia All Australian squad of 40 and finished second for the Tigers at the Brownlow, with Tigers stars Trent Cotchin and Jack Riewoldt next up. Shane Edwards was fifth, and was one of 14 from his side, for a total of 78 votes.

Top five
19 – Dustin Martin
12 – Kane Lambert
10 – Trent Cotchin
10 – Jack Riewoldt
7 – Shane Edwards

Total votes – 78

Last year's winner Dustin Martin is interviewed by Bruce McAvaney. Picture: AFL Photos

Four-time best and fairest Jack Steven finished with one more vote than the rest of his teammates combined. It was surprising he finished so far ahead of Seb Ross, while forwards Tim Membrey and Jack Billings were next up for the Saints. A host of five had one vote. All up, nine St Kilda players polled for a total of 35 votes.

Top five
18 – Jack Steven
6 – Seb Ross
4 – Tim Membrey
2 – Jack Billings
1 – Blake Acres
1 – David Armitage
1 – Jake Carlisle*
1 – Jack Lonie
1 – Jack Steele

Total votes – 35

He was the man whose Sydney's fortunes rested upon all season, so it wasn't a big surprise to see Lance Franklin atop the Swans' leaderboard. Luke Parker was second and Isaac Heeney was third, while captain Josh Kennedy was lower down than normal for him, among a group of three with running defender Jake Lloyd and ruckman Callum Sinclair. They were among 13 to poll from the club for a total of 71 votes.

Top five
16 – Lance Franklin
10 – Luke Parker
7 – Isaac Heeney
6 – Josh Kennedy
6 – Jake Lloyd
6 – Callum Sinclair

Total votes – 71

Despite his season ending in round 20, when he punched Fremantle draftee Andrew Brayshaw and copped an eight-match ban, Andrew Gaff led West Coast. The Eagles had 11 players who notched up 81 votes, with Elliot Yeo, Jack Darling and Jack Redden following Gaff. In equal-fifth were captain Shannon Hurn, gun defender Jeremy McGovern and explosive midfielder Luke Shuey. 

Top five
16 – Andrew Gaff*
15 – Elliot Yeo
11 – Jack Darling
10 – Jack Redden
6 – Shannon Hurn
6 – Jeremy McGovern
6 – Luke Shuey

Total votes – 81

Midfielder Elliot Yeo is hoping to lead his team to premiership glory. Picture: AFL Photos

It was no surprise to see prolific ball-winner Jack Macrae at the top of the count for the Dogs. Behind him was classy midfielder Marcus Bontempelli and then Lachie Hunter, who was ineligible after being suspended for rough conduct against Sydney forward Tom Papley in round four. Josh Dunkley showed his improvement to finish fourth for the club while 2016 Norm Smith Medallist Jason Johannisen rounded out the Dogs' top-five. All up, 10 Dogs polled 47 votes.

Top five
14 – Jack Macrae
9 – Marcus Bontempelli
9 – Lachie Hunter*
4 – Josh Dunkley
3 – Jason Johannisen

Total votes – 47

Want more?

• All the best pics from the Swisse Red Carpet
• Recap all the action from the night's live blog
• Find your club's vote leader on the Brownlow Tracker