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- Lachie Neale - 31
- Marcus Bontempelli - 29
- Nick Daicos - 28
- Zak Butters - 27
- Errol Gulden - 27
- Christian Petracca - 26
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Posted:
2023-09-25 08:14:26
Original link:
https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-09-25/brownlow-medal-2023-live-blog-nick-daicos-marcus-bontempelli/102875172
Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale will head into the AFL grand final as a two-time Brownlow Medal winner after claiming the league's greatest individual honour for a second time.
The 30-year-old, who won the 2020 award and was runner-up last year, polled 31 votes to win from the Western Bulldogs' Marcus Bontempelli (29) and Collingwood's Nick Daicos (28), storming home with three-vote games in the final two rounds.
Neale is the first two-time winner since former Fremantle teammate Nat Fyfe in 2015 and 2019, and just the 16th player to win multiple Brownlow Medals.
He is also the first player to win the top award without being named in the All-Australian team since former West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis in 2014.
The superstar Lion, who will play a key role against Collingwood in Saturday's decider, averaged 27.4 disposals, 8.1 clearances and 13.9 contested possessions across the regular season.
"Yeah it doesn't sit very well, at the moment," a shocked Neale said from the Lions' Brownlow function in Brisbane.
"I'm sure it will sink in at a later date. I'm pretty rattled to be honest. So apologies if this (interview) doesn't go too well.
"I did not expect this, and to be amongst some of those names that have won two is unbelievable."
Sydney's Errol Gulden and Port Adelaide star Zak Butters rounded out the top five with 27 votes apiece.
The final rounds were extraordinarily dramatic.
Dashing 20-year-old Daicos, son of Collingwood great Peter Daicos, was a red-hot favourite for most of the season but missed the final three rounds after suffering a hairline fracture in his knee during round 21.
Remarkably, the young gun led on 28 votes after round 18 and held that lead until round 23, despite not polling in that time.
Neale drew level with Daicos in round 23, with Bontempelli, Errol Gulden and Christian Petracca locked on 26 heading into the final round.
Bontempelli, who was also runner-up to Ollie Wines in 2021, claimed three votes in his final game, but was leapfrogged by Neale's best-on-ground performance against St Kilda.
Follow the count in our live blog.
That's it from the blog
So there you have it - Lachie Neale is a two-time Brownlow Medallist, and the league's best and fairest player for the 2023 season.
Neale seemed as shocked as anyone to have ended up with the medal around his neck, but his performances this season have been every bit as influential as they were back in the year of his first win in 2020.
Lachie Neale is a relentless competitor, a tireless accumulator of the football and is as skilled and creative as they come. He can make more happen with each disposal than most, but still racks them up in truly elite quantities.
He is exactly the sort of player you want on your side in the big moments. And fortunately for the Lions, they've got the biggest moment of all coming up in just a few days.
The blog will return on Saturday for the big one as Neale's Brisbane take on Collingwood in the 2023 AFL grand final, but for now it is goodnight, and congratulations to Lachie Neale.
Every club's leading poller
- Adelaide - Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird (20)
- Brisbane - Lachie Neale (31)
- Carlton - Patrick Cripps (22)
- Collingwood - Nick Daicos (28)
- Essendon - Zach Merrett (17)
- Fremantle - Caleb Serong (24)
- GWS - Toby Green (20)
- Geelong - Jeremy Cameron (13)
- Gold Coast - Noah Anderson (22)
- Hawthorn - Jai Newcombe (18)
- Melbourne - Christian Petracca (26)
- North Melbourne - Luke Davies-Uniacke (13)
- Port Adelaide - Zak Butters (27)
- Richmond - Tim Taranto (17)
- St Kilda - Jack Sinclair (21)
- Sydney - Errol Gulden (27)
- West Coast - Tim Kelly (11)
- Western Bulldogs - Marcus Bontempelli (29)
All eyes on Saturday arvo for Lachie Neale
The Brownlow is nice, but it's not the medal Neale really wants to win this week.
He was a sub in Fremantle's 2013 GF defeat, and a full decade later is back and ready to make an impact.
"I think that's the thing I have learnt the most. As you said, it was my second season, and I probably thought those opportunities were going to roll around every year or two, and they haven't, obviously.
"So for me now, I just recognise and appreciate the opportunity that's in front of me and the team and I'm going to savour every second of this week and every second that I'm on the hallowed turf of the MCG on Saturday afternoon, because who knows when we might get that opportunity again?
"It might not ever happen. I'm just going to try to soak up this week, enjoy every moment and see what happens on Saturday."
Lachie is loving life in Brisbane
And why wouldn't he? A brilliant player in a brilliant team, and now he is preparing to lead his Lions into a grand final.
"We've settled in really well. The club has been amazing for both Jules and I.
"Settling into Brisbane over the last five years has been a treat it's thanks to the club and the people involved. I can't thank them enough.
"Jules went back to Perth for a couple of weeks not long ago and said she felt that Brissie was home, which was good to hear as well.
"She's settled in great and we're loving it here and how could you not, with the weather that we get in winter?"
Lachie Neale is speaking live from the Gabba
He and the rest of the Lions stayed in Brisbane to prepare for the grand final, making this a very different night for Neale.
Hamish McLachlan is having a chat with now via the magic of technology.
"It doesn't sit very well, at the moment. I'm sure it will sink in at a later date.
"I'm pretty rattled to be honest. So apologies if this doesn't go too well. I did not expect this, and to be amongst some of those names that have won two is unbelievable."
Lachie Neale has won the 2023 Brownlow Medal
What a count, what a finish. And what a player Lachie Neale is.
A two-time Brownlow Medallist.
Round 24
Here we go. Who wins the 2023 Brownlow Medal?
Three more for Butters sees his count end with 27. A stellar season.
One vote for Gulden. He will not win the Brownlow tonight.
Zero votes for Petracca. He will not win the Brownlow tonight.
Three votes for Marcus Bontempelli! He leads!
But we wait for Neale's votes ...
Neale needs one vote to tie, two to win alone.
LACHIE NEALE GETS THREE! LACHIE NEALE WINS THE BROWNLOW!
Lachie Neale needs a vote in the last round to win it
He had 30 touches and 10 clearances.
You've got to like his chances.
Round 23
The penultimate round. Did we see a winner present himself this week?
Zak Butters picks up three to move up to 24 votes.
Nothing for Christian Petracca. Another groan through the audience.
Three votes for Errol Gulden! He moves to 26 and a tie for second! He's come from the clouds!
Marcus Bontempelli picks up two votes, he's also tied for second.
What about Neale?
Three votes! Lachie Neale is tied for the lead!
Round 22
Right, we have reached the climax. Three rounds to tally, we will have our winner very soon.
Nothing for Marcus Bontempelli.
Nothing for Errol Gulden.
One vote for Lachie Neale. Interesting.
Nothing for Christian Petracca.
Daicos still leads with two rounds to go.
Who can run Nick Daicos down?
The young Magpies gun still leads by two votes with three rounds to go, but he does not play in any of those three games.
Realistically, it's down to Lachie Neale, Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca.
Who gets it done from here? We're about to find out.
Round 21
Four rounds to go.
Jordan Dawson picks up three to move to 20 votes.
Nothing for Christian Petracca in this one. And a groan is let out through the crowd. That could be telling.
Nothing for Lachie Neale either. Daicos's lead will survive another week.
Zak Butters picks up three to move to 20 votes.
Errol Gulden! Look out! Three more takes him to 23.
But here comes Marcus Bontempelli! Three for the Bont and he is now tied with Neale in third place.
It is getting spicy now!
Round 20
Nothing for Nick Daicos, and with his injury coming next week that will be his polling down for the night. 28 won't be enough.
Christian Petracca picks up one vote.
Errol Gulden is up to 20, that's a name I haven't flagged yet.
Nothing for Neale or Anderson. We have something resembling a stalemate right now.
Round 19
Six rounds left to tally. If I was to guess, I'd say Lachie Neale from here but it's way too tight to call.
Nothing for Neale in this one.
Three for Tim Taranto to take him to 19 votes overall.
Nothing for Daicos.
Two for Marcus Bontempelli keeps him interested.
Nothing for Petracca either.
Max Gawn came prepared
Round 18
Marcus Bontmpelli picks up two.
Noah Anderson! Three votes! Holy moly, he is really threatening now.
Three votes Christian Petracca! He ties Daicos for the lead. Zero votes for Neale in that game too.
Three more for Nick Daicos! He's three votes clear in front.
Round 17
Patrick Cripps has 19 votes. Very under the radar so far.
Nothing for Noah Anderson.
One vote for Christian Petracca.
One vote for Lachie Neale.
Three votes for Nick Daicos! Who returns to the lead after 17 rounds.
Noah Anderson is having himself a night
A surprise for most, but maybe not for those who watched a lot of Suns footy this year. Who's to say how far he can take this.
Is it Neale vs Petracca?
It's sure looking that way at the moment. Lachie Neale leads from Nick Daicos, with Christian Petracca a vote further back. But it's these two that seem to have the best chance right now.
ABC/AAP