Adelaide Crows

It was never going to be a big night for Adelaide. Rory Laird, Reilly O'Brien and Matt Crouch were the only players to poll in multiple games, as the Crows finished with the fewest votes of any team in the competition. Interestingly, impressive youngster Lachie Scholl polled three votes against Carlton in round 17 – the week he wasn't nominated for the NAB AFL Rising Star.

Top five
4 - Rory Laird
4 - Reilly O'Brien
3 - Matt Crouch
3 - Lachlan Sholl
3 - Rory Sloane

Total votes - 20 (18th overall)

Rory Laird (right) chatting to eventual winner Lachie Neale. Picture: AFL Photos

Brisbane Lions

Everything worked out perfectly for Lachie Neale. He polled votes in 11 of 17 games, with 10 of those ultimately proving to be best-on-ground performances. It equated to a remarkable and record-breaking Brownlow Medal victory for the brilliant midfielder. Fortunately, as had been feared, Jarryd Lyons didn't steal too many votes from him. Neale and Lyons polled in the same game only three times throughout the year, with Jarrod Berry also failing to steal votes. Neale polled nearly half of Brisbane's 66 votes, which was the second-most of any team.

Top five
31 - Lachie Neale
9 - Jarryd Lyons
8 - Jarrod Berry
4 - Harris Andrews
4 - Hugh McCluggage

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)

LION KING Lachie Neale salutes on footy's big night

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Brisbane star Lachie Neale is crowned the 2020 Brownlow winner

Published on Oct 18, 2020

Carlton

It might not have been his best season, but Patrick Cripps still did enough to top Carlton's tally. Cripps polled in four games, including two best-on-ground performances, to narrowly see off the club's up-and-coming midfielder Sam Walsh. The Blues remarkably had 15 separate players poll throughout the night, spreading the love relatively evenly across the board. But it was Cripps who was again the standout, receiving the maximum three votes in thrilling wins over Geelong and Fremantle.

Top five
10 - Patrick Cripps
8 - Sam Walsh
5 - Ed Curnow
4 - Michael Gibbons
4 - Jack Martin

Total votes - 48 (12th overall)

Patrick Cripps with partner Monique Fontana at the Blues' Brownlow function. Picture: AFL Photos

Collingwood

It's hard to topple Scott Pendlebury. The incredible consistency of the Collingwood captain was again reflected on Brownlow Medal night, where Pendlebury narrowly saw off Taylor Adams to lead the count for the Magpies. Steele Sidebottom made a red-hot start and polled in the opening three games, while it took Adams until round 10 to find his first vote. It meant that Pendlebury, who gathered votes at a nice pace throughout the evening, could once again steal the show for Collingwood.

Top five
13 - Scott Pendlebury
11 - Taylor Adams
6 - Brodie Grundy
6 - Darcy Moore
6 - Steele Sidebottom

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)

ALL THE VOTES Every vote from every game

Essendon

Votes were hard to come by at Essendon. The ineligible Zach Merrett found the most with 14, finishing just outside the overall top-10, but he didn't have much for competition. Dylan Shiel had two best-on-ground performances within the first five games, but didn't poll again, while Andrew McGrath also struggled to attract the attention of the umpires throughout the night. It meant that Merrett finished well clear from within his own ranks, although the Bombers still had the fourth-fewest votes of any team.

Top five
13 - Zach Merrett
7 - Andrew McGrath
6 - Dylan Shiel
4 - David Zaharakis
2 - Anthony McDonald-Tipungwuti, Adam Saad, Jake Stringer

Total votes - 37 (15th overall)

Fremantle

Last year's Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe finished 23 votes off his 2019 count, but still managed to top Fremantle's leaderboard on Sunday night. Fyfe polled in six games, but failed to earn a single best-on-ground performance, narrowly managing to overcome his younger teammate Andrew Brayshaw. It was a relatively even night for the Dockers, who had 11 players score a vote, with this year's NAB AFL Rising Star winner Caleb Serong even managing to secure his first career Brownlow Medal vote. Expect it to be the first of many.

Top five
10 - Nat Fyfe
9 - Andrew Brayshaw
8 - Michael Walters
6 - Luke Ryan
3 - Adam Cerra, Rory Lobb, David Mundy, Matt Taberner

Total votes - 50 (11th overall)

Nat Fyfe, Andrew Brayshaw, David Mundy, Brennan Cox, Luke Ryan and Adam Cerra. Picture: AFL Photos

Geelong Cats

It was no real surprise to see 2016 Brownlow medallist Patrick Dangerfield topping the Cats' count, but at the start of the year not many would have tipped Cameron Guthrie to give him a run for his money. Guthrie was named All Australian for the first time this year and his stellar season was reflected in the votes. In a win for forwards around the country, Coleman medallist Tom Hawkins picked up 11 votes, including two best-on-grounds. Retiring champion Gary Ablett polled one vote in his final season.

Top five
15 - Patrick Dangerfield
14 - Cam Guthrie
11 - Tom Hawkins
5 - Mitch Duncan
5 - Sam Menegola

Total votes - 64 (5th overall)

Tom and Emma Hawkins, Patrick and Mardi Dangerfield, Brit and Joel Selwood. Picture: AFL Photos

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Gold Coast Suns

"Three votes – M. Rowell" is a phrase we're sure to hear for years to come, and star youngster Matt Rowell produced three consecutive best on ground performances before his season-ending shoulder injury. Recruit Hugh Greenwood starred in his first season at the club, while Jack Lukosius rounded out a surprisingly low count for the Suns with a best-on performance against Richmond.

Top five
11 - Hugh Greenwood
9 - Matt Rowell
3 - Jack Lukosius
3 - Touk Miller
2 - Ben Ainsworth, Sam Day, David Swallow, Jarrod Witts

Total votes - 38 (14th overall)

Matt Rowell polled three consecutive best on grounds. Picture: AFL Photos

GWS Giants

Toby Greene doesn't do things by halves, and the game-changing Giant polled all 12 of his votes in best-on-ground performances, spread consistently throughout the season. Classy teammate Josh Kelly also featured in the votes on four occasions to finish with eight. Draftee Jake Riccardi starred with a 12-disposal, four-goal NAB AFL Rising Star performance in round 14, but failed to poll a vote.

Top five
12 - Toby Greene
8 - Josh Kelly
4 - Stephen Coniglio
4 - Nick Haynes
4 - Jacob Hopper, Harry Perryman, Lachie Whitfield

Total votes - 51 (10th overall)

Star Giant Toby Greene. Picture: AFL Photos

Hawthorn

Reflective of its season and slide down the ladder, it was a fairly quiet vote count for Hawthorn. Perennial vote-getter and 2018 Brownlow medallist Tom Mitchell saw off all Hawks to poll 10 in his return season from a badly broken leg. Just nine Hawthorn players featured in the votes throughout the season. Dylan Moore only broke back into the side for the first time this year in round 16, and was given one vote in round 18.

Top five
10 - Tom Mitchell
6 - Chad Wingard
5 - Jack Gunston
3 - Jaeger O'Meara
3 - Isaac Smith

Total votes - 33 (16th overall)

Melbourne

On a club-by-club basis, Melbourne's count was quite intriguing, with periods of dominance from different players. Max Gawn made all the early running, Clayton Oliver bobbed up in the middle of the season, but the 'Trac train' came through at full pelt. Christian Petracca had only polled five votes before this year and finished with 20 – including four best-on performances between rounds 11 and 18 – to finish third overall. Mitch Brown would have been happy with his two votes against former side Essendon.

Top five
20 - Christian Petracca
14 - Clayton Oliver
13 - Max Gawn
6 - Jack Viney
4 - Steven May

Total votes - 61 (=6th overall)

Christian Petracca finished equal third. Picture: AFL Photos

VIRTUAL RED CARPET All the best pics from the Brownlow

North Melbourne

Rising star Jy Simpkin was off to a hot start, polling seven votes in the first four rounds to be equal fourth overall at that stage of the count. Like the Roos, he struggled as the season progressed, polling just one more to finish with eight overall. Evergreen ruck Todd Goldstein was awarded votes in three matches, including a best-on performance against Greater Western Sydney. In a quirk, Jared Polec was given one vote against Carlton, but was dropped for the following round's clash with Adelaide.

Top five
8 - Jy Simpkin
5 - Todd Goldstein
3 - Jed Anderson
3 - Ben Cunnington
2 - Luke Davies-Uniacke, Shaun Higgins, Luke McDonald

Total votes - 27 (17th overall)

Jack Ziebell arriving at the Brownlow Medal. Picture: AFL Photos

Seen as the main challenger to eventual winner Lachie Neale, midfielder Travis Boak raced to an early lead with eight of a possible nine votes in the first three rounds. He couldn't stay with Neale, but finished second with 21 votes, polling in eight games. Midfielders Tom Rockliff and Ollie Wines polled 10 votes each, with All-Australian Charlie Dixon on nine, and 17 Power players in the votes – more than any other club.

Top five
21 - Travis Boak
10 - Tom Rockliff
10 - Ollie Wines
9 - Charlie Dixon
5 - Robbie Gray

Total votes - 75 (1st overall)

Ollie Wines and Travis Boak. Picture: AFL Photos

Richmond

It was a slow start for Dustin Martin, but the 2017 medallist polled eight votes between rounds eight and 10 and finished on a team-high 15. Shai Bolton's move into the midfield drew nine votes in an outstanding season, while Kane Lambert's back-to-back three-vote games in rounds five and six saw him come in third for the Tigers. Fifteen Tigers polled in an even season, including Jake Aarts, Liam Baker, Noah Balta and Derek Eggmolesse Smith, who got their first career votes.

Top five
15 - Dustin Martin
9 - Shai Bolton
6 - Kane Lambert
5 - Trent Cotchin
3 - Liam Baker, Jack Graham, Dion Prestia, Jayden Short

Total votes - 56 (9th overall)

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Trent Cotchin and Dustin Martin arrive. Picture: AFL Photos

St Kilda

All-Australian midfielder Jack Steele was rewarded for an outstanding season with 20 votes, finishing equal third. He enjoyed a purple patch between rounds five and 10, with four best-on-ground games in that period. Dan Butler made a statement in his first game against former club Richmond, polling three votes, finishing with eight alongside ruckman Rowan Marshall. Luke Dunstan polled one vote in round one but was not seen again after being dropped and later suffering a pectoral injury.

Top five
20 - Jack Steele
8 - Dan Butler
8 - Rowan Marshall
7 - Zac Jones
5 - Jade Gresham

Total votes - 60 (8th overall)

Jack Steele topped the Saints' leaderboard. Picture: AFL Photos

Sydney Swans

Co-captain Luke Parker was one of only three players to poll in both rounds one and two, either side of the shutdown. He kicked on to finish with 15 votes, polling well and finishing clear of teammate Tom Papley in second on six votes. Injured for much of the season, Isaac Heeney finished with five votes from the first three rounds, while co-captain Josh Kennedy polled three votes in the final two rounds.

Top five
15 - Luke Parker
6 - Tom Papley
5 - Isaac Heeney
4 - Josh Kennedy
3 - Jake Lloyd

Total votes - 39 (13th overall)

Luke Parker and partner Kate Lawrence at the Sydney function. Picture: AFL Photos

West Coast Eagles

All-Australian ruckman Nic Naitanui did not poll as well as expected. The superstar big man finished with five votes in an outstanding campaign, well down the club leaderboard in equal seventh. Star recruit Tim Kelly finished equal top with 11 votes alongside Dom Sheed, with fellow midfielders Andrew Gaff and Elliot Yeo trailing on eight each. All-Australian Liam Ryan could surprisingly only manage one vote. Josh Kennedy celebrated his 250th match with four goals against Fremantle and three votes.

Top five
11 - Tim Kelly
11 - Dom Sheed
8 - Andrew Gaff
8 - Elliot Yeo
6 - Josh Kennedy, Luke Shuey

Total votes - 66 (=2nd overall)

Andrew Gaff and partner Emma Van Woerden. Picture: AFL Photos

Western Bulldogs

The battle for top billing at The Kennel was over early as Jack Macrae raced to the lead with 10 votes after nine rounds to sit equal fourth overall. The prolific midfielder finished on 15, ahead of captain Marcus Bontempelli on 10. Club champion Caleb Daniel was well down the board with three votes, with eye-catching youngster Bailey Smith picking up his first career votes and finishing on seven.

Top five
15 - Jack Macrae
10 - Marcus Bontempelli
7 - Bailey Smith
6 - Lachie Hunter
4 - Josh Dunkley, Tim English

Total votes - 61 (=6th overall)

Marcus Bontempelli arrives with Tom Liberatore. Picture: AFL Photos