Carlton captain Patrick Cripps was awarded his second Brownlow medal last night. So how does the Brownlow medal work?
What happened?
Cripps was among the favourites before the night began, with the 29-year-old having led Carlton to a second consecutive finals series following his first Brownlow medal in 2022.
Other favourites to win included Collingwood’s Nick Daicos, who finished second on 38 points, and the Western Bulldogs’ captain Marcus Bontempelli who finished down the leaderboard in 14th.
Cripps’ record number of votes saw him clinch the medal with three rounds remaining.
How does the Brownlow medal work?
The Brownlow is voted on by the umpires who officiate the AFL.
After every game during the regular season, three players are awarded points for their performance.
The best player is awarded three points, the second-best two and the third-best one. Cripps received 45 votes, eclipsing the record of 36 set by Richmond’s Dustin Martin in 2017 and equalled by Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines in 2021.
What they said
“So many guys have great years, but I knew it was my most consistent year. It’s only the third or fourth time I’ve played a full season. Gather Round adds an extra game, and that’s why the count is probably higher than what it usually is… I’m super grateful to be up here. It’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Goal and Mark of the Year
Two other highly anticipated awards on the night are the goal and mark of the year. West Coast rookie Harley Reid won the goal of the year, and Collingwood forward Bobby Hill won the mark of the year.
