What would Adelaide do without the Crouch brothers? Brad's incredibly consistent year was rewarded with 14 votes in seven games this year, while Matt finished with eight. Alex Keath was awarded two best-on-grounds, very rare for a key back, while fan favourite Eddie Betts polled two votes in his 300th game. Rory Laird received raucous cheers upon his first votes in round 20.
Top five
14 – Brad Crouch
8 – Matt Crouch
7 – Rory Sloane
6 – Alex Keath
5 – Eddie Betts
Total votes - 53 (=14th overall)
Matt Crouch finished second in the Crows' count behind brother Brad.
Star recruit Lachie Neale polled in an astonishing nine of his first 11 games for Brisbane, entrenching himself at the pointy end of the leaderboard. He finished equal-third overall. Another recruit to join him in the votes was former Sun Jarryd Lyons, who bolted late, recording nine of his 13 votes in the second half of the year. Fan favourite Mitch Robinson was named best for his performance in the first QClash of the year.
Top five
26 – Lachie Neale
19 – Dayne Zorko
13 – Jarryd Lyons
11 – Charlie Cameron
6 – Eric Hipwood
Total votes - 90 (=1st overall)
Lachie Neale's first season at Brisbane started with a bang, finishing equal third in the count.
FYFE JOINS THE GREATS Dockers superstar wins second Brownlow Medal
What a year by Patrick Cripps. The co-captain had polled 13 of a possible 15 votes by round five, a Brownlow record, and in 11 of a possible 20 matches. He finished equal-third overall. NAB Rising Star winner Sam Walsh polled his first votes in round 12 and finished with six, while Will Setterfield, Harry McKay and Matthew Kennedy also bobbed up for a vote each.
Top five
26 – Patrick Cripps
6 – Marc Murphy
6 – Sam Walsh
5 – Ed Curnow
3 – Charlie Curnow
Total votes - 60 (12th overall)
Not surprisingly, Patrick Cripps was far and away the highest-polling Blue.
It wouldn't surprise many to see All Australian ruckman Brodie Grundy poll strongly. The Magpie was awarded votes in nine games, including a whopping seven best-on-grounds. Collingwood's classy midfield fell in behind, with Adam Treloar, Scott Pendlebury and Steele Sidebottom rounding out the votes. Forward Jamie Elliott made an impact when he returned to the side, polling votes in the last two rounds of the season.
Top five
23 – Brodie Grundy
18 – Adam Treloar
14 – Scott Pendlebury
7 – Steele Sidebottom
5 – Jamie Elliott
Total votes - 81 (=4th overall)
Ruckman Brodie Grundy led the way for the Pies.
RED CARPET GALLERY Check out all the best photos
Recruit Dylan Shiel had a strong start to his Essendon career, recording two threes and a two within his first six games. The former Giant finished second for his club with 14. Classy midfielder Zach Merrett led the way for the Bombers with 16, while livewire forward Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti recorded eight votes, including a best-on performance against North Melbourne. Forward Mitch Brown also bobbed up for a vote.
Top five
16 – Zach Merrett
14 – Dylan Shiel
8 – Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti
3 – Dyson Heppell
3 – Michael Hurley
Total votes - 58 (13th overall)
Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti and his mum Jane McDonald on the red carpet.
It's all about the now two-time Brownlow medallist Nat Fyfe. The superstar midfielder had the win sewn up with a three-vote performance against St Kilda in round 21. He polled in 13 games, finishing with just under half of Fremantle's total votes. Unheralded defender Luke Ryan also featured, including a three-vote performance against St Kilda.
Top five
33 – Nat Fyfe
11 – Michael Walters
8 – David Mundy
5 – Luke Ryan
4 – Bradley Hill
Total votes - 69 (8th overall)
Michael Walters had a great year in front of the sticks and was rewarded with 11 votes.
The Cats love to poll in the Brownlow, and 2019 was no exception. Patrick Dangerfield stormed home to finish in second place overall, with eight votes in his final three matches. Tim Kelly threatened early, recording a whopping 18 of his 24 before the bye. The little master Gary Ablett showed he isn't done yet, getting in the votes in six matches.
Top five
27 – Patrick Dangerfield
24 – Tim Kelly
13 – Gary Ablett*
11 – Mitch Duncan
5 – Tom Hawkins
Total votes - 90 (=1st overall)
Tim Kelly started like a house on fire before finishing just behind Patrick Dangerfield at the club.
BROWNLOW TRACKER Every vote, every round
Unfortunately for the Suns, their top five were their only five players to poll votes. Both co-captains David Swallow and Jarrod Witts caught the eye of the umpires, with Swallow topping the club count with seven. Jack Martin, who has requested a trade, had a strong start to the year, polling in rounds two and three.
Top five
7 – David Swallow
5 – Jack Martin
5 – Touk Miller
4 – Brayden Fiorini
1 – Jarrod Witts
Total votes - 22 (18th overall)
Co-captain David Swallow and his partner Georgia Homer on the red carpet.
Stephen Coniglio was the most hotly contested signature until he re-signed with the Giants last month, and his healthy pay packet was justified after he topped the club's count. Lachie Whitfield missed a portion of this year with a broken collarbone, polling 11 of his votes before the bye. With a Grand Final to come, Jeremy Cameron (13) was spotted sipping a cup of tea at the Giants' function in Sydney, while retiring club favourite Dawson Simpson polled his first ever vote in his last year.
Top five
17 – Stephen Coniglio
13 – Jeremy Cameron
12 – Lachie Whitfield
11 – Josh Kelly
9 – Tim Taranto
Total votes - 84 (3rd overall)
Jeremy Cameron and Indiana Putra arrive at the Giants' function in Sydney.
COGS RECOGNISED Giant takes out Jim Stynes Award for multicultural community work
With reigning Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell sidelined for the entire season, Jaeger O'Meara was the Hawks' leading vote-getter with 11. O'Meara polled votes in seven games, with a best-on-ground performance against Carlton in round six. Ricky Henderson's resurgence saw him finish tied for second alongside the fast-finishing James Worpel, on 10 votes. All up, 14 Hawks players polled 67 votes. Retiring champion Jarryd Roughead secured two votes in his 283rd and final game with a six-goal haul against Gold Coast in round 22.
Top five
11 – Jaeger O'Meara
10 – Ricky Henderson
10 – James Worpel
8 – James Sicily
5 – Jack Gunston, Liam Shiels
Total votes - 67 (10th overall)
Jaeger O'Meara polled in seven games to lead the Hawks' count.
After polling 20 votes last year, All Australian ruckman Max Gawn had another strong performance with 17 votes to lead the Demons. Clayton Oliver (12) was the only other Demon in double figures, with Tom McDonald (six), Bayley Fritsch (four) and James Harmes (four) rounding out the top five. Indicative of their poor season, the Demons only had seven players poll a total of 47 votes. Angus Brayshaw didn't poll a single vote after finishing third last year with 21.
Top five
17– Max Gawn
12 – Clayton Oliver
6 – Tom McDonald
4 – Bayley Fritsch
4 – James Harmes
Total votes - 47 (17th overall)
Max Gawn being interviewed by 2018 NAB AFL Auskicker of the Year, Isla Roscrow.
Despite missing five games this season, the evergreen Shaun Higgins polled a career-high 18 votes to lead the Kangaroos. The 31-year-old recently signed a one-year extension for 2021. Contested bull Ben Cunnington (10 votes) and captain Jack Ziebell (10) also finished in double figures. Key forward Ben Brown (eight) unsurprisingly picked up best-on-ground honours for his remarkable 10-goal haul against Port Adelaide in round 22. The Kangaroos had 11 players poll a total of 68 votes.
Top five
18 – Shaun Higgins
10 – Ben Cunnington
10 – Jack Ziebell
8 – Ben Brown
6 – Cameron Zurhaar
Total votes - 68 (9th overall)
Shaun Higgins and Ben Brown were among the top Kangaroos vote-getters.
BEST OF THE BEST Four times a charm for Eddie, Ryan flies high for big award
Former skipper Travis Boak started brilliantly with 14 votes - including three best-on-ground performances - in the first 13 rounds, but only polled two more votes for the rest of the year. Robbie Gray (10 votes) and Tom Rockliff (seven) finished second and third respectively at the Power, with delisted forward Sam Gray and co-captain Ollie Wines rounding out the top five. A total of 13 players polled 66 votes for the Power. NAB AFL Rising Star runner-up Connor Rozee collected four votes in an impressive debut season.
Top five
16 – Travis Boak
10 – Robbie Gray
7 – Tom Rockliff
6 – Sam Gray
6 – Ollie Wines
Total votes - 66 (11th overall)
Travis Boak topped the count at Port Adelaide after an excellent season.
2017 Brownlow medallist Dustin Martin polled strongly to finish in a tie for sixth with 23 votes, but he was ineligible after being suspended for striking in round three. It was the third-most votes Martin has received in a season and the eighth time he's been in double figures. All Australian defender Bachar Houli was the next best for the Tigers with 11 votes, ahead of Dion Prestia (eight), skipper Trent Cotchin (six) and Shai Bolton (five). The Tigers had 13 players poll 72 votes.
Top five
23 – Dustin Martin*
11 – Bachar Houli
8 – Dion Prestia
6 – Trent Cotchin
5 – Shai Bolton
Total votes - 72 (7th overall)
Dion Prestia and his partner Laney McIntyre arrive at the Brownlow Medal.
Seb Ross flew home with a wet sail, polling six of his 12 votes in rounds 19, 21 and 22, corresponding with the Saints finishing their season strongly. In contrast, Jack Billings began with a bang, polling eight in the first five rounds to sit equal-second for the Brownlow. Billings only polled three more votes the rest of the season. Emerging ruck Rowan Marshall (seven), Jade Gresham (five) and Josh Bruce (four) rounded out the top five. A total of 13 players shared the 53 votes for the Saints. Prized recruit Dan Hannebury picked up a solitary vote in his first season at his new club.
Top five
12 – Seb Ross
11 – Jack Billings
7 – Rowan Marshall
5 – Jade Gresham
4 – Josh Bruce
Total votes - 53 (=14th overall)
Young Saint Jack Billings started well before fading late in the season.
The Swans weren't expected to have a serious contender for the medal this year, having won just eight games, and that's how it panned out. Luke Parker led the way with 16 votes, including three best-on-ground performances. Parker polled 12 votes between rounds eight and 15. Josh Kennedy (nine), Isaac Heeney (six), Oliver Florent (five), Tom Papley (four) and Sam Reid (four) completed the top six. Ten players polled a total of 53 votes.
Top five
16 – Luke Parker
9 – Josh Kennedy
6 – Isaac Heeney
5 – Oliver Florent
4 – Tom Papley, Sam Reid
Total votes - 53 (=14th overall)
Josh Kennedy was happy to let partner Ana Calle take the limelight.
It was a case of players stealing votes off each other for the Eagles that stopped any chance of producing a Brownlow Medal winner. Four players polled in double figures, with Elliot Yeo leading the way with 17 votes. He was ahead of Luke Shuey (15), Andrew Gaff (13) and Dom Sheed (12). Key forward Jack Darling rounded out the top five with eight. The Eagles had a total of 10 players poll a total of 74 votes.
Top five
17 – Elliot Yeo
15 – Luke Shuey
13 – Andrew Gaff
12 – Dom Sheed
8 – Jack Darling
Total votes - 74 (6th overall)
Elliot Yeo and Liam Ryan pose for a photo before the count.
Marcus Bontempelli was one of the favourites heading into the count, and the 'Bont lived up to that billing early with 10 votes in the first seven games. He had a quiet middle patch before best-on-ground efforts in rounds 19 and 20 to finish tied for eighth on 22 votes – level with teammate Jack Macrae, who stormed home with eight votes in his final three games .Josh Dunkley also got plenty of the umpires' attention, finishing 19th overall with 15 votes. Emerging superstar Aaron Naughton (seven) and Lachie Hunter (five) rounded out the top five at the Bulldogs. Eleven players polled 81 votes.
Top five
22 – Marcus Bontempelli
22 – Jack Macrae
15 – Josh Dunkley
7 – Aaron Naughton
5 – Lachie Hunter
Total votes - 81 (=4th overall)
Superstar Dog Marcus Bontempelli brought along former teammate Jack Redpath.
*Ineligible
