The Brownlow Medal is set to kick off the AFL grand final week, celebrating the league’s fairest and best player for 2024. This prestigious event, happening on Monday night, promises intrigue with a mix of past winners and emerging champions vying for the top honour. The event is not just about the awards; it’s also a glamorous evening with much attention on the fashions seen on the red carpet.
When and Where to Watch
Mark your calendars for Monday, September 23. The Brownlow Medal count begins at 8pm AEST (7:30pm ACST in Darwin and Adelaide, 6pm AWST in Perth). Fans can watch the proceedings live on the Seven Network and stream it via 7Plus starting at 7:30pm AEST.
Leading Contenders for the Medal
This year’s favourites include Carlton’s Patrick Cripps and Collingwood’s Nick Daicos. Cripps, the Blues skipper and 2022 Brownlow winner, has had an outstanding season with averages of 28.7 disposals, eight clearances, and 15.6 contested possessions per game. Meanwhile, Daicos, who narrowly missed last year’s award due to injury, has delivered another stellar performance, averaging 30.7 disposals, 13.9 contested possessions, and 7.7 clearances per game. He also boasts two finalist goals for the AFL Goal of the Year, set to be announced earlier in the evening. Other potential winners include Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli, Essendon’s Zach Merrett, Fremantle’s Caleb Serong and Brisbane’s Lachie Neale, who previously won the medal in 2020 and 2023.
Understanding the Brownlow Voting System
The Brownlow Medal is unique as it’s decided by umpires’ votes. Throughout the home-and-away season, umpires allocate votes to the top three players each game—three votes to the best, two to the runner-up, and one to the third-best. These votes are secret until revealed round-by-round at the ceremony.
Suspended players for a week or more during the season are ineligible, focusing on fair play. Notably, Sydney’s Isaac Heeney, despite a strong season, is ineligible due to a suspension. If he tops the count, the medal will go to the next highest vote-getter. In case of a tie, the medal is shared, as seen in the 2003 triple tie (Ricciuto, Buckley, Goodes) or the infamous 2012 season where 4 years later Jobe Watson from Essendon had his medal stripped from him and awarded to the two runner ups, Sam Mitchell and Trent Cotchin after the Essendon drugs scandal rulings.
Previous Winners
- 2023: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
- 2022: Patrick Cripps (Carlton)
- 2021: Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide)
- 2020: Lachie Neale (Brisbane)
- 2019: Nat Fyfe (Fremantle)
- 2018: Tom Mitchell (Collingwood)
The Brownlow Medal remains an event of excitement and prestige, setting the stage for an exceptional grand final week, where returning runner ups from 2023, Brisbane Lions will take on the minor premiership winners of 2024, Sydney Swans. What a week ahead for AFL lovers!
