Brownlow Medal 2026 recap: Nick Daicos wins first Brownlow Medal with 47 votes
History has been made as Nick Daicos finally took home the Brownlow Medal. Recap all the action from the count and the red carpet here.
AFL: The country’s best football players and their partners descended on Melbourne for the AFL’s night of nights on Monday.
Brownlow favourite Nick Daicos was the centre of attention, with all eyes on the Collingwood star and his partner Arlette Armor ahead of his historic night.
Nick’s brother Josh will also attract attention, as fans waited to see what his fiancee and notable queen of the Brownlow, Annalise Dalins, was wearing.
AFL heartthrob Bailey Smith was late, fresh out of a shoulder reconstructive surgery, while Fremantle Dockers and Brisbane Lions players attended virtually, as both teams prepare for their Grand Final appearance on Saturday.
Notably, the five Sydney Swans players who were stood down by their club after the Pullman Hotel saga were not in attendance, including Isaac Heeney who is under police investigation for sexual assault, as well as Chad Warner and Nick Blakey.
Key events
21 Sep 2026 - 09:13 PM
Eagles and Dockers
21 Sep 2026 - 08:57 PM
Brownlow top 10
21 Sep 2026 - 08:30 PM
Your winner!
21 Sep 2026 - 07:48 PM
Leaderboard after Round 15
21 Sep 2026 - 07:39 PM
Jim Stynes Community Award
21 Sep 2026 - 07:24 PM
Promises, promises
21 Sep 2026 - 06:30 PM
Leaderboard after round 5
21 Sep 2026 - 06:07 PM
Bailey Smith makes it to the Brownlow ceremony in the nick of time
21 Sep 2026 - 05:57 PM
Bailey Smith is running late
21 Sep 2026 - 05:34 PM
Hard to look away from Andy and Lizzie Brayshaw
21 Sep 2026 - 05:10 PM
Luke Jackson and partner Kelsey Browne are couple goals at Crown Perth
21 Sep 2026 - 04:49 PM
Bella Petracca sparkles in baby bump pics
21 Sep 2026 - 04:31 PM
Hawthorn co-captain James Sicily arrives after massive umpire abuse fine
21 Sep 2026 - 04:23 PM
Richo, Abbey Holmes arrive on red carpet
21 Sep 2026 - 04:03 PM
Medal favourite Nick Daicos, Arlette Amor post sneak peak
21 Sep 2026 - 03:48 PM
FIRST ARRIVALS: Rory Lobb and wife Lexi Lobb arrive on red carpet
Round 24
Eagles’ table goes off as Milan Murdock gets his first career Brownlow vote.
Smith finishes on 36 but Daicos wins.
Round 23
Will Ashcroft moves to 27 votes for the Lions.
Rankine nabs the three votes against Fremantle in a loss while Gawn finishes strong.
Bont now sits third withe Smith in second.
Daicos is just three votes away from 50 with one game left.
Round 22
Jye Amiss is the only Docker to get a vote at the MCG against the Dees despite a tight game.
Sheezel is now on 27 and Smith moves to 30.
Daicos gets three more against West Coast and goes to 44.
Can he get to 50?
Round 21
Harley Reid has moved to 15 votes for the Eagles which is their highest tally in a while.
Murphy Reid is sneaking up on Luke Jackson as the Dockers highest vote-getter just three behind.
BUT... Nick Daicos is confirmed the Brownlow medalist with no one able to catch him.
Round 20
Murphy Reid is up to 12 votes in just his second season in the AFL.
Nas gets three votes and moves to 21 for his monster game against North Melbourne.
Bont moves to 31 while Daicos flies past 40 and this is a procession.
He is just the second player to pass the 40 mark.
Round 19
We are flying through the votes now as Smith moves to 26.
Bont is now on 29 and looks as if he is going to be runner up.
Because Daicos gets three again and is miles ahead.
Round 18
Treacy earns three votes against the Swans after the 100-point second half.
Botempelli gets three against West Coast and moves back to equal second.
Another three votes for Daicos and it’s almost done.
Round 17
Not a single Eagle or Docker gets a vote in Round 17.
Max Gawn has quietly polled 20 votes now.
Three more votes for Daicos and he is up to 32!
Butters is now second but six behind him.
Round 16
Dillon is getting on the Sheezel train here as he storms home while Butters is staring.
But no one can stop Daicos getting three votes.
Leaderboard after Round 15
N Daicos - 26
M Bontempelli - 23
B Smith - 23
Z Butters - 22
I Heeney - 20
M Gawn - 18
C Oliver - 18
H Sheezel - 18
L Jackson - 17
J Newcombe - 16
