Carlton captain and West Australian Patrick Cripps smashes record to claim second Brownlow Medal

Patrick Cripps can lay claim to being arguably Carlton’s greatest ever player after becoming the first Blue to win two Brownlow Medals in the club’s 160-year history.

And the Northampton-product did it in record-breaking fashion, polling 45 votes to claim the medal for the second time in three seasons joining an illustrious group of just 17 players to claim multiple Brownlow Medals.

It was the most votes ever in a single season under the 3-2-1 system, eclipsing the previous best of 36 held by retired Richmond star Dustin Martin (2017) and Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (2021) – a feat he accomplished by round 19.

Cripps polled in 17 of a possible 23 games including 12 best on grounds to finish seven votes ahead of fellow pre-count favourite, Collingwood’s Nick Daicos on 38 votes, with Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters third on 29.

The Blues skipper took the lead in the count in round 12 and never looked back, storming home with 23 votes in the final 11 games.

Already one of only six Brownlow medallists from the Blues, the West Australian stamped himself in history on the back of an incredible season when he averaged 29 disposals, eight clearances and five tackles.

“I knew it was my consistent year, I had to go to work on my game in the last year,” Cripps said.

“I felt there was a few areas I needed to go to work on, I was getting shadowed in games a few times by the opposition.

“This is the most games I’ve played, it’s only the third or fourth time I’ve played a full season … you never know on Brownlow night that’s what makes it so exciting.”

As predicted, Sydney star Isaac Heeney started the count in red-hot fashion, breaking a Brownlow record with 21 votes after the first 10 rounds.

But he was never destined to become the first Swan since Adam Goodes in 2006 with a suspension making him ineligible.

Along with Sydney’s form, Heeney’s votes waned late in the year and he would finish with 28 votes.

Western Bulldogs skipper and two-time runner-up Marcus Bontempelli was unusually quiet early in the count, having to wait until round 12 before he would poll a maximum three votes.

Reigning winner and two-time Brownlow medallist Lachie Neale also didn’t poll a lot of votes early, with only seven after the first 13 rounds.

Fremantle’s Caleb Serong finished equal fourth on 28 votes, while Elliot Yeo topped the count for West Coast with eight.