IT WAS a Brownlow Medal for the record books in 2011 with more players polling more votes than ever before.

A total of 1127 votes were cast across 187 matches, the most games ever in a single season where votes have been awarded.

Let's begin with the winner, Dane Swan, Collingwood's ninth Brownlow medallist and first solo Magpies medallist since Peter Moore in 1979.

Swan's final vote tally of 34 was a new record, excluding the 1976-77 seasons where each individual umpire awarded 3-2-1 votes.

No player in history has polled as many votes in a single season, passing the previous winning record of 32 by St Kilda's Robert Harvey in 1998 and Des Fothergill and Herbie Matthews (joint winners in 1940).

Swan also ties with the same trio after polling in an equal-record 14 matches, and for the first time, Swan's mark saw the medallist register 30 votes or more for the third consecutive year.

Swan is also the first player to win the award wearing No.36, with only three players ever having worn a higher number and won.

Amazingly, eight players polled 20 or more votes, only the second time in history this has happened excluding 1976-77, and that was in 2007.

Ineligible Hawk Sam Mitchell polled 30 votes, breaking Shane Crawford's record for most votes in a season by a Hawthorn player (28 in 1999).

Mitchell also set the highest tally by an ineligible player, beating Chris Grant's previous best of 27 in 1997.

Nick Dal Santo officially finished second with 28 votes, the most votes in a season by a St Kilda player since Robert Harvey in 1998.

There were a number of stars and veterans who continued to poll votes, Brisbane's Simon Black extended his career tally to 173, the most of any current player.

For the third straight year, Carlton skipper Chris Judd polled more than 20 votes and took his career tally to an incredible 185 and an average of almost 19 votes a season over his 10 year career.

Sydney co-captain Adam Goodes continued his remarkable record with his 19 votes taking his career tally to 156, behind only the great Bob Skilton (180) in the Swans' history.

And what about Essendon's Dustin Fletcher? He may have only picked up three votes this year, but he has now polled at least one vote in every year of his 19-season career except for two, 1994 and 2004.

Collingwood's team total of 111 was a new club record, passing 89 in 1970 and 2010 and is now third on the all-time tally behind Essendon (116 in 2000) and Geelong (112 in 2008).

St Kilda's Jason Blake continued his League record for most games without a single Brownlow vote which now stretches to 199 matches.

Bulldog Ryan Hargrave maintained his hold on the League record for most games and only a single vote, now up to 191 games.

And a final quirky fact - the past 11 Brownlow medallists have all been right footers.