HE MIGHT be an overwhelming favourite for this year's Brownlow Medal, but Brisbane star Lachie Neale is guaranteed to have fierce competition for the game's highest individual honour on Sunday night.

Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak and Melbourne gun Christian Petracca are both bound to poll plenty of votes, while Lions teammates like Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage could also steal votes from their prolific partner throughout the night.

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But a red-hot start to the season, and a series of strong matches thereafter, should put Neale in the best possible position to record the necessary votes needed to take home his first ever Brownlow Medal.

But when will he poll his votes? And who are his biggest rivals? AFL.com.au assesses the field and looks at who will be making the charge at Neale and when throughout Sunday evening's count.

BROWNLOW PREDICTOR Every round, all the votes

Round 2: He won 29 disposals and kicked two goals against the Dockers, which should be enough to see him overcome Nat Fyfe and Charlie Cameron for all three votes.
Round 3: Another 32 disposals and two goals in a win over the Eagles, with Hugh McCluggage also good.
Round 4: Picked up 31 disposals in a comfortable win over Adelaide, which should be enough to see off Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry.
Round 5: Dominant against the Power with 29 disposals and a goal, but Jarryd Lyons was also very strong.
Round 8: Returned to his best with 33 disposals in a narrow win over the Demons. Should pinch the three votes from Brownlow rival Christian Petracca.
Round 9: Racked up another 33 disposals and two goals in a big win over the Bombers. Should be enough to claim all three votes from Charlie Cameron and Alex Witherden.
Round 11: Won 36 disposals and a goal in a big win over the Bulldogs. Should be enough to earn all three votes, although Eric Hipwood kicked a bag.
Round 16: Prolific again with 33 disposals in a win over the Saints. Should be among the votes, but Dayne Zorko could grab all three. 

Round 1: Had 26 disposals and a goal, but in a big loss to the Hawks. Expect Chad Wingard and Tom Mitchell to also poll well.
Round 10: He won 26 disposals, but in a loss to the Tigers. Dustin Martin, Tom Lynch and Shai Bolton should get the votes, but he's a chance.
Round 12: Had 24 disposals in a narrow victory over the Kangaroos. Jarryd Lyons was good, while Jed Anderson kept the Roos in the game. Could he at least steal one vote?
Round 15: He was everywhere with 27 disposals, but were Jarryd Lyons and Jarrod Berry better against the Pies? Scott Pendlebury could also feature.
Round 18: Finished the year in style with 29 disposals against the Blues. Could be in the votes, but Daniel Rich and Sam Walsh were also good.

Round 6: Had 26 disposals and a goal, but in a loss to the Cats. Sam Menegola, Patrick Dangerfield and Tom Hawkins should all beat him to the votes.
Round 7: Kept to just 20 disposals, despite a win over the Giants. Dayne Zorko and Harris Andrews were among the best.
Round 13: Held to just 19 disposals in a win over the Saints. Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage will both be in the votes.
Round 14: Bye.
Round 17: Kept to just 15 disposals, his lowest tally of the season, in a win over the Swans. He won't poll, with Jarryd Lyons and Daniel Rich among the best.

Brownlow Predictor: 25 votes (1st)
Sportsbet Odds: $1.25

Round 1: Started the season with 25 disposals in a big win over the Suns. Should poll maximum votes, but Tom Rockliff and Connor Rozee were also impressive.
Round 3: Continued a strong start to the year with 26 disposals and a goal against the Dockers. Should nab all three votes, despite Ollie Wines and Nat Fyfe also performing well.
Round 9: Returned to his best with 25 disposals and a goal in a victory over the Demons. Ollie Wines was also good, but Boak should have his measure.
Round 13: Should poll all three votes, having won 34 disposals and nine clearances in a win over the Hawks. Tom Rockliff was good, but not as good as Boak.
Round 16: Won plenty of the footy, finishing with 34 disposals and a goal in a victory over the Kangaroos. Ollie Wines and Tom Rockliff were both impressive, but should be an afterthought.

Round 2: Had 24 disposals and a goal in a Showdown victory over the Crows, but Steven Motlop and Connor Rozee were also good. Should sneak at least a vote.
Round 6: Despite being kept to 16 disposals, he still had an impact on the contest. Kane Farrell and Sam Powell-Pepper were also good, but Boak could steal the limelight.
Round 11: Had 31 disposals in a big win over the Tigers, but will it be enough to grab all three votes? Ollie Wines and Robbie Gray might provide stiff competition.
Round 14: Had 20 disposals and a goal against the Swans, but Robbie Gray, Charlie Dixon and Ollie Wines all featured prominently. Might sneak at least one vote if he's lucky.
Round 17: Was busy and won 26 disposals, but will have to fend off competition from Tom Rockliff and Ollie Wines to secure the votes.
Round 18: He won 21 disposals against Collingwood, but Tom Rockliff was among the best. Would be lucky to nab a vote.

Round 4: Held to just 19 disposals, despite victory over the Eagles. Expect Charlie Dixon and Hamish Hartlett to feature prominently in the votes.
Round 5: Still won 26 disposals, but in a big loss to the Lions. Lachie Neale, Jarryd Lyons and Hugh McCluggage all starred for the victors.
Round 7: Won just 18 disposals in a victory over the Blues. Charlie Dixon and Tom Jonas dominated at either end of the field and should get the votes.
Round 8: Kept to just 15 disposals in a surprise home loss to the Saints. Jack Steele, Rowan Marshall and Hunter Clark were awesome for the visitors.
Round 10: Held to only 10 disposals in a victory over the Bulldogs. Tom Rockliff and Zak Butters starred and should get the votes.
Round 12: Performed admirably to win 24 disposals, but it came in a big loss to the Cats. Tom Hawkins, Cam Guthrie and Patrick Dangerfield were among the best.
Round 15: Bye.

Brownlow Predictor: 21 votes (2nd)
Sportsbet Odds: $7

Round 2: He won 24 disposals and two goals in a victory over the Blues, where his impact was felt early. But could Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver challenge him for votes?
Round 6: A big day, with 25 disposals and two goals in a win over the Suns. Should poll three votes, although Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney were also impressive.
Round 7: Continued his fine run of form with 29 disposals and a goal in a victory against the Hawks. Expect maximum votes, with Max Gawn and Clayton Oliver also strong.
Round 11: Returned to his very best with 29 disposals and a goal against the Kangaroos. Should poll three votes, but Clayton Oliver and Angus Brayshaw were also impressive.
Round 14: Should collect votes, having gone forward to kick four goals against the Saints. But will Steven May's late heroics scupper his plans to win all three?
Round 18: Finished the season strongly with 23 disposals and a goal against the Bombers. Should poll in front of Steven May and Dylan Shiel. Could these votes put him in contention for the Brownlow?

Round 5: He had 27 disposals, but in a loss to the Tigers. Could pinch a vote, but Kane Lambert and Dion Prestia were perhaps the best.
Round 8: He won 24 disposals and had eight tackles, but the Lions got the better of his Demons. Lachie Neale should poll all three votes, but he might be included later down the line.
Round 10: Could sneak a vote, having finished with 20 disposals and eight tackles in a win over the Crows. But will Clayton Oliver and Jack Viney be ahead of him?
Round 12: He picked up 24 disposals and a goal in a win over the Magpies and should poll votes, but how many? Ed Langdon and Clayton Oliver were also in fine form.
Round 17: He won 22 disposals and kicked a goal in a crucial victory over the Giants, but expect Steven May to again spoil his plans to win all three votes. 

Round 1: Had 24 disposals, but don't expect a vote in a big loss to the Eagles. Andrew Gaff was everywhere, while Jack Viney stole the show for the Demons.
Round 3: Bye.
Round 4: Just 18 disposals and a goal in a loss to the Cats. Expect Clayton Oliver to poll votes, if any Demon does.
Round 9: He was good, with 24 disposals and a goal. But it came in a big loss to the Power. Travis Boak and Ollie Wines will feature prominently in voting.
Round 13: He won 26 disposals, but in a big loss to the Bulldogs. Don't expect votes, with Marcus Bontempelli and Jack Macrae everywhere.
Round 15: Kept to 21 disposals in a surprise loss to the Swans. Luke Parker and Josh Kennedy should be included in the votes.
Round 16: He won 25 disposals, but in another shock loss to the Dockers. Adam Cerra and Andrew Brayshaw were among the best for the victors.

Brownlow Predictor: 18 votes (3rd)
Sportsbet Odds: $8 

Round 9: Really began to click into gear in round nine, with 26 disposals and three goals in a win over the Bulldogs. Expect maximum votes, despite Shai Bolton also impressing.
Round 10: Another 24 disposals and four clearances against the Lions. He was pivotal in the win and should poll ahead of Tom Lynch and Shai Bolton.
Round 13: Should be among the votes after another big night in the Dreamtime game. He won 30 disposals and kicked a goal, but Shai Bolton was also good.
Round 18: Finished the season strongly with 28 disposals and a goal against the Crows. Expect all three votes, with Shane Edwards also among the best. 

Round 1: He won 24 disposals and kicked a goal against the Blues, but Dion Prestia was the best on ground. Could compete with Jack Martin for two votes.
Round 2: Had 20 disposals in a draw with the Pies. But might be best to look elsewhere, with Scott Pendlebury and Tom Lynch among the best.
Round 7: Kicked two goals, but held to just 16 touches against the Kangaroos. Might sneak a vote if lucky, but Dylan Grimes and Shai Bolton were among the best.
Round 8: Started to find some good form with 23 disposals and two goals in a loss to the Giants. Should poll, but expect Toby Greene's heroics to earn him all three votes.
Round 12: He won 20 disposals in a win over the Suns, but is unlikely to earn votes. Trent Cotchin and Kane Lambert were among the best.
Round 14: He won 17 disposals and kicked two goals in a victory over the Eagles and should be among the votes. But will his captain, Trent Cotchin, steal all three?
Round 17: Could grab a vote after winning 19 disposals against the Cats. Dylan Grimes and Jack Riewoldt were among the best, but Martin wasn't far behind.

Round 3: Missed due to rib soreness.
Round 4: Kept to just 18 disposals in a big loss to the Saints. Dan Butler starred against his former side, while Jack Steele and Tim Membrey should also be among the votes.
Round 5: Had 20 disposals and a goal in a win over the Demons, but was that enough to poll? Kane Lambert and Dion Prestia were the best for the Tigers.
Round 6: Kept to just 15 disposals in a low-scoring win over the Swans. Don't expect votes, with Callum Mills starring and Jayden Short among the best for the Tigers.
Round 11: Held to just 17 disposals in a loss to the Power. Don't expect votes, with Ollie Wines and Travis Boak dominating for the hosts.
Round 15: Kept to just 11 disposals in a win over the Dockers. Won't poll votes, with Jayden Short and Jack Graham doing the bulk of the work for the Tigers.
Round 16: Bye.

Brownlow Predictor: 15 votes (4th)
Sportsbet Odds: $26 

Round 6: Started to hit his straps with 26 disposals and eight clearances in a win over the Lions. He was very influential, with Sam Menegola and Tom Hawkins his rivals for votes.
Round 14: Back to his best with 32 disposals and six clearances in a commanding win over the Western Bulldogs. It should be enough to grab the votes from Lachie Hunter.
Round 18: Finished the season nicely with three goals from 14 disposals to drag his side over the line against the Swans. His influence in attack should put him in the frame for maximum votes, despite Sam Menegola's output.

Round 2: Had 24 disposals and a goal in a win over the Hawks. Might pip a vote if he's lucky, but Joel Selwood and Gary Ablett will be ahead in the queue.
Round 4: He picked up 22 disposals and a goal in a win over the Demons, but will he poll? Cam Guthrie was the best for the Cats, while Clayton Oliver also performed admirably.
Round 7: He won 32 disposals, but in a big loss to the Magpies. If he's lucky, he gets a vote. But expect Jordan De Goey and Adam Treloar to be ahead of him.
Round 11: An outside chance to earn a vote after winning 19 disposals and a goal against the Saints. Sam Menegola and Tom Hawkins were both important.
Round 12: He had 24 disposals in a win over the Power, but will he be among the votes? Tom Hawkins and Cam Guthrie were perhaps more influential in the win.
Round 13: He won 27 disposals against the Crows, which should be enough to be in the votes. But with Cam Guthrie and Mitch Duncan also good, the question is how many votes he earns.
Round 16: Pushed forward to kick two goals from 17 disposals against the Bombers. Should be enough to grab a vote, although Sam Menegola and Tom Hawkins could be ahead of him. 

Round 1: Kept to just 16 disposals in a loss to the Giants. Harry Perryman and Stephen Coniglio were among the best.
Round 3: Had 21 disposals, but in a surprise loss to the Blues. Expect Patrick Cripps and Eddie Betts to share the majority of the votes.
Round 5: Kept to just 20 disposals and little impact in a win over the Suns. Tom Hawkins and Mitch Duncan will be ahead of Dangerfield in the line to poll.
Round 8: Limited to 18 disposals, despite a win over the Dockers in the wet. Mitch Duncan and Cam Guthrie were more influential.
Round 9: Again held to 18 disposals in a loss to the Eagles. Don't expect votes, with Dom Sheed, Nic Naitanui and Josh Kennedy among the best for the winners.
Round 10: Had just 17 disposals in a big win over the Kangaroos. Cam Guthrie and Tom Hawkins should be among the votes.
Round 15: Bye.
Round 17: Kept to just 19 disposals in a sorry loss to the Tigers. Don't expect votes, with Dylan Grimes, Jack Riewoldt and Dustin Martin all dominating in a win.

Brownlow Predictor: 14 votes (Equal 5th)
Sportsbet Odds: $21 

Round 5: Should pick up three votes after starring against the Blues. Had 23 disposals and nine tackles, while he locked down Patrick Cripps. His only rival for maximum votes is Rowan Marshall.
Round 7: He was everywhere with 26 disposals, 13 clearances and a goal in a win over the Crows. Should win the votes, although Jade Gresham was also good.
Round 10: Steele was awesome in a narrow win over the Suns, with 21 disposals and two goals. Expect maximum votes ahead of teammate Dan Butler.
Round 13: He picked up 25 disposals, 10 tackles and a goal in a loss to the Lions. He was fantastic, but will being on a losing team hurt him? Jarrod Berry and Hugh McCluggage were good for the victors.
Round 18: Finished the season strongly with 18 disposals, 10 clearances and two goals in a pivotal win over the Giants. Should be enough to put him in contention for maximum votes. 

Round 1: He won 22 disposals and a goal, but it came in a disappointing loss to the Kangaroos. Might therefore miss votes, with Ben Cunnington and Jy Simpkin among the best.
Round 2: He won another 22 disposals and kicked a goal in a win over the Bulldogs, so should be among the votes. But how many? Jack Billings and Zak Jones were also good.
Round 4: Could sneak a vote, having won 21 disposals and laid nine tackles in a big win over the Tigers. Dan Butler and Tim Membrey were also influential.
Round 8: He had 21 disposals in an upset win over the Power. But Rowan Marshall and Hunter Clark were superb and should be ahead of him in the queue for votes.
Round 9: Might again be an outside chance to poll, having picked up 23 disposals in a win over the Swans. Jade Gresham and Zak Jones were also strong.
Round 14: He won 26 disposals and kicked a goal, but it came in a loss to the Demons. Brownlow rival Christian Petracca will contend for all three votes, but Steele might be included in that conversation.
Round 16: He had 21 disposals and a goal in a win over the Hawks. Could be an outside chance to poll, but Seb Ross and Zak Jones might be ahead of him. 

Round 3: Had just 13 disposals as the Saints fell to the Pies. Won't poll votes, with Steele Sidebottom and Taylor Adams among the best.
Round 6: He won 22 disposals, but it came in a loss to the Dockers. Don't expect votes, with Nat Fyfe and Michael Walters dominating.
Round 11: He had 25 disposals, but in a big loss to the Cats. Sam Menegola and Tom Hawkins will feature prominently in the votes.
Round 12: He picked up 21 disposals in a victory over the Bombers, but the Saints had more influential performers. Josh Battle, Zak Jones and Jack Billings were among them.
Round 15: Bye.
Round 17: His 26 disposals came in a disappointing defeat to the Eagles. Tim Kelly, Andrew Gaff and Nic Naitanui will probably keep him from the votes.

Brownlow Predictor: 14 votes (Equal 5th)
Sportsbet Odds: $13