What is the Brownlow Medal?
The Brownlow Medal is the highest individual award in the AFL, given to the best and fairest player during the home-and-away season. It was first awarded in 1924 and is voted on by the field umpires.
The medal is named after Charles Brownlow, a former Geelong footballer and long-time club administrator who died in 1924. The first winner was Edward Greeves of Geelong.
After each match, the field umpires award three votes to the player they consider best on the ground, two votes to the second-best and one vote to the third-best.
Count night
The votes are counted at a ceremony held in the week before the Grand Final. Brownlow night is a major television event, famous for its red carpet where players and their partners show off their fashion.
Players who are suspended during the season are ineligible to win the medal, which explains the word fair in best and fairest.
Several players have won the Brownlow Medal three times, including Haydn Bunton Sr, Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton and Ian Stewart. Dustin Martin set a record of 36 votes in 2017, which was later broken by Patrick Cripps.
Did You Know?
Lachie Neale, Nat Fyfe and Chris Judd are among recent players to win two Brownlow Medals.