THE BROWNLOW Medal is over for another year.

First awarded in 1924, the Brownlow Medal is the leading individual award in the game, handed to the best and fairest player at the end of each season.

FULL LIST Every Brownlow Medal winner
BROWNLOW PREDICTOR Who will take home Charlie?

The award is named in honour of Charles 'Chas' Brownlow, one of the most significant figures – both on and off the field – in the early days of the game. Brownlow spent 40 years with Geelong as a player and influential administrator before his death in January 1924, with the medal created later that year.

The voting format of the award has changed a handful of times during its 100 years.

Between 1924 and 1930, the field umpire would award one vote per game to the best player on the ground, meaning the vote tallies at the end of the season were low by modern standards.

In 1931, the system changed to the format used today of six votes per game on a 3-2-1 basis. The only change to that came in 1976 and 1977, when two umpires each awarded 3-2-1 votes, for a total of 12 votes per game, leading to inflated totals in those two seasons.

Take a look at the Brownlow basics for all 18 clubs.

Winners
Mark Ricciuto (2003)

Most career votes
Scott Thompson (152)

Most career votes (current)
Rory Laird (105)

Most three-vote games
Andrew McLeod (31)

Highest vote per game average
Jordan Dawson (0.81)

03:42

Fantastic Five: Mark Ricciuto's best moments

Mark Ricciuto boasts a strong football resume. The Adelaide legend played in the 1998 premiership, was a joint winner of the 2003 Brownlow medal, earned eight All Australian selections and captained the club for seven seasons during his 312-game...

Published on Mar 19, 2018

Winners
Haydn Bunton (1931, 1932, 1935), Wilfred Smallhorn (1933), Dinny Ryan (1936), Allan Ruthven (1950), Kevin Murray (1969), Bernie Quinlan (1981), Michael Voss (1996), Jason Akermanis (2001), Simon Black (2002), Lachie Neale (2020, 2023)

Most career votes
Simon Black (184)

Most career votes (current)
Lachie Neale (162)

Most three-vote games
Lachie Neale (39)

Highest vote per game average
Lachie Neale (1.15)

*includes Fitzroy

Simon Black with the 2002 Brownlow. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Bert Deacon (1947), John James (1961), Gordon Collis (1964), Greg Williams (1994), Chris Judd (2010), Patrick Cripps (2022, 2024)

Most career votes
Patrick Cripps (205)

Most career votes (current)
Patrick Cripps (205)

Most three-vote games
Patrick Cripps (40)

Highest vote per game average
Patrick Cripps (0.91)

02:35

Record-shattering Cripps sets new Brownlow benchmark in dominant vote count

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps polls a record-breaking 45 votes to take home the 2024 Brownlow Medal

Published on Sep 23, 2024

Winners
Syd Coventry (1927), Albert Collier (1929), Harry Collier (1930), Marcus Whelan (1939), Des Fothergill (1940), Len Thompson (1972), Peter Moore (1979), Nathan Buckley (2003), Dane Swan (2011)

Most career votes
Scott Pendlebury (225)

Most career votes (current)
Scott Pendlebury (225)

Most three-vote games
Scott Pendlebury (38)

Highest vote per game average
Nick Daicos (1.24)

02:53

Fantastic Five: Dane Swan's best moments

Collingwood superstar Dane Swan was often talked about for his off-field antics, but the No.36 gave Pies fans plenty to sing about on the ground too. The ball magnet waddled his way to the 2010 premiership and the 2011 Brownlow medal

Published on Apr 30, 2018

Winners
Dick Reynolds (1934, 1937, 1938), Bill Hutchinson (1952, 1953), Graham Moss (1976), Gavin Wanganeen (1993), James Hird (1996)

Most career votes
Bill Hutchinson (172)

Most career votes (current)
Zach Merrett (160)

Most three-vote games
Zach Merrett (31)

Highest vote per game average
Graham Moss (0.95)

Gavin Wanganeen shows off his Brownlow Medal in 1993. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Nat Fyfe (2015, 2019)

Most career votes
Nat Fyfe (190)

Most career votes (current)
Nat Fyfe (190)

Most three-vote games
Nat Fyfe (42)

Highest vote per game average
Nat Fyfe (0.81)

01:37

The moment Fyfe won the Brownlow

Fremantle's Nat Fyfe polls 33 votes to win the 2019 Brownlow Medal

Published on Sep 23, 2019

Winners
Edward Greeves (1924), Bernie Smith (1951), Alistair Lord (1962), Paul Couch (1989), Jimmy Bartel (2007), Gary Ablett (2009), Patrick Dangerfield (2016)

Most career votes
Joel Selwood (214)

Most career votes (current)
Patrick Dangerfield (162)

Most three-vote games
Joel Selwood (36)

Highest vote per game average
Bailey Smith (1.45)

03:24

Fantastic Five: Jimmy Bartel's best moments

A Brownlow, a Norm Smith, three premierships and 305 games. Jimmy Bartel was incredible!

Published on Apr 3, 2018

Winners
Gary Ablett (2013), Matt Rowell (2025)

Most career votes
Gary Ablett (122)

Most career votes (current)
Matt Rowell (89)

Most three-vote games
Gary Ablett (27)

Highest vote per game average
Gary Ablett (1.11)

21:33

'Speechless' Rowell takes the floor after historic Brownlow win

Matt Rowell delivers his first speech after becoming just the second Gold Coast Sun to be awarded the Brownlow Medal

Published on Sep 22, 2025

Winners
Nil

Most career votes
Josh Kelly (97)

Most career votes (current)
Josh Kelly (97)

Most three-vote games
Toby Greene (24)

Highest vote per game average
Tom Green (0.68)

Josh Kelly during the Elimination Final between Greater Western Sydney and Hawthorn at ENGIE Stadium, September 6, 2025. Picture: Getty Images

Winners
Col Austen (1949), Robert DiPierdomenico (1986), John Platten (1987), Shane Crawford (1999), Sam Mitchell (2012), Tom Mitchell (2018)

Most career votes
Sam Mitchell (220)

Most career votes (current)
Jai Newcombe (70)

Most three-vote games
Sam Mitchell (44)

Highest vote per game average
Tom Mitchell (0.93)

(L-R) Leigh Matthews, David Parkin, Peter Knights, Robert DiPierdomenico, Gary Buckenara, Rick Davies, Kelvin Moore and John Platten during the Australian Football Hall of Fame at CENTREPIECE on June 18, 2024. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Ivor Warne-Smith (1926, 1928), Don Cordner (1946), Brian Wilson (1982), Peter Moore (1984), Jim Stynes (1991), Shane Woewodin (2000)

Most career votes
Robert Flower (150)

Most career votes (current)
Max Gawn (144)

Most three-vote games
Christian Petracca (27)

Highest vote per game average
Denis Cordner (0.66)

2000 Brownlow Medal winner Shane Woewodin (right) and son Taj Woewodin on the red carpet at the 2023 Brownlow Medal. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Noel Teasdale (1975), Keith Greig (1973, 1974), Malcolm Blight (1978), Ross Glendinning (1983)

Most career votes
Brent Harvey (191)

Most career votes (current)
Luke Davies-Uniacke (56)

Most three-vote games
Brent Harvey (41)

Highest vote per game average
Gary Dempsey (0.61)

Malcolm Blight in action for North Melbourne

Winners
Ollie Wines (2021)

Most career votes
Travis Boak (174)

Most career votes (current)
Ollie Wines (133)

Most three-vote games
Travis Boak (31)

Highest vote per game average
Jason Horne-Francis (0.78)

15:27

The hugs, the kisses, the speech: Wines takes 'Charlie' home

Port Adelaide star Ollie Wines is crowned the 2021 Brownlow medallist

Published on Sep 19, 2021

Winners
Stan Judkins (1930), Bill Morris (1948), Roy Wright (1952, 1954), Ian Stewart (1971), Trent Cotchin (2012), Dustin Martin (2017)

Most career votes
Dustin Martin (213)

Most career votes (current)
Dion Prestia (46)

Most three-vote games
Dustin Martin (42)

Highest vote per game average
Bill Morris (0.84)

Dustin Martin poses with the Brownlow Medal on September 25, 2017. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Colin Watson (1925), Brian Gleeson (1957), Neil Roberts (1958), Verdun Howell (1959), Ian Stewart (1965, 1966), Ross Smith (1967), Tony Lockett (1987), Robert Harvey (1997, 1998)

Most career votes
Robert Harvey (215)

Most career votes (current)
Jack Steele (90)

Most three-vote games
Robert Harvey (45)

Highest vote per game average
Harold Bray (0.88)

Robert Harvey celebrates a win for St Kilda during the 1998 AFL season. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Herbie Matthews (1940), Ron Clegg (1949), Fred Goldsmith (1955), Bob Skilton (1959, 1963, 1968), Peter Bedford (1970), Graham Teasdale (1977), Barry Round (1981), Greg Williams (1986), Gerard Healy (1988), Paul Kelly (1995), Adam Goodes (2003, 2006)

Most career votes
Bob Skilton (180)

Most career votes (current)
Isaac Heeney (91)

Most three-vote games
Bob Skilton (31)

Highest vote per game average
Herbie Matthews (0.86)

*includes South Melbourne

Adam Goodes celebrates his 2006 Brownlow Medal triumph at the Hilton Hotel in Melbourne. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Chris Judd (2004), Ben Cousins (2005), Matt Priddis (2014)

Most career votes
Matt Priddis (149)

Most career votes (current)
Tim Kelly (40)

Most three-vote games
Peter Matera (29)

Highest vote per game average
Chris Judd (0.76)

Matthew Priddis in action during the semi-final between West Coast and Collingwood at Subiaco. Picture: AFL Photos

Winners
Allan Hopkins (1930), Norman Ware (1941), Peter Box (1956), John Schultz (1960), Gary Dempsey (1975), Kelvin Templeton (1980), Brad Hardie (1985), Tony Liberatore (1990), Scott Wynd (1992), Adam Cooney (2008)

Most career votes
Marcus Bontempelli (213)

Most career votes (current)
Marcus Bontempelli (213)

Most three-vote games
Marcus Bontempelli (52)

Highest vote per game average
Marcus Bontempelli (0.87)

Marcus Bontempelli in action during the match between the Western Bulldogs and Fremantle at Marvel Stadium in round 24, 2025. Picture: Getty Images