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 8
Daicos gets one vote in the draw against Hawthorn.
Bontempelli gets the three votes despite the Dogs going down to the Dockers with Serong getting two.
On the flip side, Harley Reid gets three votes for the Eagles despite a loss to Richmond.
Petracca moves into double digits with another three-vote match.
The retiring class
The AFL has celebrated this year’s retiring class of players.
Top three so far
N Daicos - 15 (of a possible 18)
H Sheezel - 12
Z Butters - 11
Round 7 - ANZAC Round
Pendlebury winding back the clock holds off Daicos for three votes but he gets two regardless.
Jackson gets two votes but Bolton takes the three against Carlton.
Neale is leading the Lions at this stage with eight and he is at the function in Brisbane.
Round 6
Daicos takes the three votes against Carlton and he is running away with it already.
Butters is into double digits ahead of his move from Port to Western Bulldogs should the clubs get a trade done.
The Dockers take all the votes in the derby with Jordan Clark getting top marks.
Goal of the Year
Conor McKenna has claimed goal of the year for his remarkable soccer off the ground in the pocket against Collingwood.
He was on the most accute of angles but used his Gaelic origins to slide the ball through the big sticks.
He did something similiar in the preliminary final and says it may not have been a fluke.
McKenna says he may buy a horse with the prize money.
Leaderboard after round 5
N Daicos - 10
M Bontempelli - 9
Z Butters - 9
B Smith - 9
L Davies-Uniake - 7
C Serong - 7
H Sheezel - 7
Round 5
Daicos gets one vote against Fremantle while Jackson nabs all three in the slow-scoring thriller.
He’s into double digits though with Bailey Smith and Bontempelli behind him.
Round 4
Daicos finally misses out on votes in a loss to the Lions on a Friday night. Only because he didn’t play!
Serong polls three votes again and moves seven, two behind the leaders.
