Patrick Cripps wins Brownlow Medal in record-breaking vote haul as Carlton star sees off Nick Daicos to win AFL’s top individual prize for a SECOND time

Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has won his second AFL Brownlow Medal, receiving a record 45 votes to claim the honour convincingly.

The 29-year-old is the first player to win the Brownlows award twice for Carlton, having also won the game’s most prestigious individual award two years ago.

Cripps remarkably had an unassailable lead with four laps to go and Collingwood’s Nick Daicos was second on 38, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters was third on 29 points.

After three years of close results, this is the most impressive victory since Brisbane Lions’ Lachie Neale won the first of his two Brownlows by 10 points in the COVID-shortened 2020 season.

Daicos, who was second favourite behind Cripps, also broke the old record of 36 votes, previously jointly held by Richmond’s Dustin Martin (2017) and Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (’21).

Cripps, who took the lead halfway through the season, equalled the record with the ninth of his 12 outings in which he received three votes in round 19.

The Carlton star then received three votes in the winning round against Collingwood and Daicos received two, giving Cripps a nine-vote lead.

That meant Daicos needed to secure three votes in each of his last three games to tie with Cripps, with the Magpies youngster needing two in round 22 to confirm the result.

In a sign of his dominance, Cripps has received three votes in three of his last four contests.

Cripps is kissed by his wife Monique after being announced winner of the prestigious award

Cripps is known for backing the Blues when the game is decided. He has been selected for the All-Australian Team for the fourth time this year and is the 17th player to win multiple Brownlows.

Carlton greats Chris Judd and Greg Williams also won two Brownlows, but Judd won his first medal on West Coast and Williams in Sydney.

Midway through the season, Cripps took over from Sydney star Isaac Heeney, who was ineligible due to his suspension for an assault in round 17.

Heeney was a big story, especially early in the counting, when he had 21 votes by round 10 – a record for Brownlow.

It is 27 years since Western Bulldogs great Chris Grant topped the list but did not win because he was suspended for the season. St Kilda’s Robert Harvey, who finished one vote behind Grant, won the first of his two Brownlows instead.

But Heeney’s charge lost steam midway through the season. While Cripps surged to the lead, the Sydney ace was not at all in the polls from rounds 11 to 18, tied with fourth-placed Fremantle star Caleb Serong.

Fellow Sydney players Errol Gulden (25 votes) and Chad Warner (23) helped the AFL save the embarrassment by taking votes from Heeney.

The Carlton captain led his team to the final and received 45 votes during the season

Brisbane co-captain Lachie Neale, who had the chance to become the fifth player to win the Brownlows three times, and Western Bulldogs’ perennial rival Marcus Bontempelli have never been among the leaders.

Melbourne’s star player in the 2021 Premier League season, Angus Brayshaw, who was forced to retire before the start of this season due to repeated concussions, offered an emotional toast on behalf of his fellow players who have also retired this year.

Collingwood’s prolific forward Bobby Hill won the Goal of the Year award and West Coast midfielder Harley Reid won the Goal of the Year award in his debut season.

The Jim Stynes ​​Community Leadership Award was also presented at the Brownlow celebrations to Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien.