Sydney Swans star Isaac Heeney may be on track to join an unwanted group at the conclusion of Brownlow Medal night. Despite being a standout performer for the top team this season, Heeney is ineligible for the prestigious award due to a one-match suspension he received in July for an incident involving St Kilda’s Jimmy Webster.
Should Heeney end up polling the most votes for the season, he would become the third player to achieve this without winning the medal because of suspension, following Corey McKernan and Chris Grant. Jobe Watson also won in 2012 but was later stripped of the medal due to the Essendon supplements scandal.
The Brownlow Medal, awarded annually since 1924, recognizes the best and fairest player during the AFL‘s home-and-away season. This year’s ceremony will take place at Crown Melbourne on Monday, September 23, with the broadcast starting at 7:30 PM AEST.
How the Brownlow Medal is Determined
The Brownlow Medal winner is decided by umpires who vote on a 3-2-1 basis after each match. The player with the highest total votes at the end of the regular season is awarded the medal. Players who are suspended during the season cannot win, and if multiple players tie in votes, they are recognized as joint winners.
2024 Brownlow Medal Favorites
Patrick Cripps (Carlton): $2.50
Nick Daicos (Collingwood): $2.75
Lachie Neale (Brisbane): $8
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs): $13
Zach Merrett (Essendon): $34
Key Performance Periods
Patrick Cripps (Rounds 15-16): Averaged 40.5 disposals and led Carlton to two victories by large margins. In Round 15, he had 41 disposals against Geelong and followed up with 40 against Richmond.
Nick Daicos (Rounds 8-12): Averaged 35.2 disposals, helping Collingwood win three out of five matches. Notably, he recorded 41 disposals in a close game against Adelaide.
Lachie Neale (Rounds 15–18): The Lions’ winning run was aided by his 37 disposals and 10 clearances against Port Adelaide, which demonstrated his continued importance. He consistently delivered strong performances, with several matches exceeding 30 disposals.
Recent Recipients of the Brownlow Medal
2023: Brisbane Lions’ Lachie Neale
2022: Carlton’s Patrick Cripps
Ollie Wines (Port Adelaide) in 2021
Brownlow Medal Records All-Time
Maximal Medals: There are four players with three Brownlow Medals:
Fitzroy’s Haydn Bunton Sr.
(Essendon) Dick Reynolds
The South Melbourne-based Bob Skilton
Richmond/St Kilda’s Ian Stewart
Ollie Wines and Dustin Martin shared the record for the most votes in a season with 36 apiece when using the 3-2-1 format. With 59 votes in 1977, Graham Teasdale set the record.
Career Votes Leader: With 266 career votes, Patrick Dangerfield has the most among active players, followed by Gary Ablett Jr. with 262.
