What time does the Brownlow Medal count start and how can I watch it in Australia?

Matt Shrivell
The Nightly
Will Lachie Neale snare another Brownlow or will some other AFL stars fight it out for the coveted award.
Will Lachie Neale snare another Brownlow or will some other AFL stars fight it out for the coveted award. Credit: The Nightly

It’s time to swap out the tight shorts and jerseys for dresses and dinner suits as the AFL glams it up for its night of nights — the Brownlow Medal.

Players and their partners will light up the red carpet in the traditional Hollywood-style entrance walk, with media clamouring to get a line on dress designers, suit purchases and how the players feel about their chances in the live vote count at Melbourne’s Crown entertainment complex.

After the grand final teams are decided, the AFL’s elite descend on Melbourne with the race for the prestigious award wide open after a superstar of the game was ruled out due to suspension.

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Sydney’s Isaac Heeney banked three-point games all season and was a hot favourite before suffering a crushing one-match suspension for striking St. Kilda’s Jimmy Webster. Heeney was deemed ineligible to win the coveted award leaving a surge of players in contention.

Nick Daicos, Patrick Cripps, Marcos Bontompelli and last year’s winner Lachie Neale are all front-runners but the chances of a bolter sweeping through the field have never been stronger.

Let’s take a look at what you can expect and how to see every minute of the glamour event…

The red carpet

### PIC EMBARGOED UNTIL WEDNESDAY 18 SEPTEMBER ###
Brownlow Medal - Dale Thomas and Abbey Holmes
Dale Thomas and Abbey Holmes are all set for the red carpet. Credit: David Cook/Seven Network

The festivities kick off with the Brownlow Medal Red Carpet show from 7.30pm (AEST), hosted by 7NEWS Melbourne’s Abbey Gelmi, along with 7AFL’s Dale ‘Daisy’ Thomas and Abbey Holmes, on the spot and showcasing the glitz and getting all the ‘goss’ directly from the players and their partners.

The main event

Seven’s exclusive, live and free coverage begins at 7.30pm AEST on Channel 7, 7mate, and 7plus across all devices. The night will be hosted by 7AFL commentator Hamish McLachlan and 7NEWS Melbourne’s Rebecca Maddern, broadcasting LIVE from Crown.

As Australian football embarks on a new era where all Australians can stream the AFL, Seven will broadcast both the 2024 Brownlow Medal and the AFL Grand Final exclusively live and free, allowing footy fans across the country to tune in anytime, from anywhere.

Seven Network Head of AFL and Sport Innovation, Gary O’Keeffe, said: “From the first moment on the red carpet, through to what we expect to be a nail-biting final vote count, Australians can catch every moment of the 2024 Brownlow medal live and free on Seven and 7plus.

“We’ve seen countless times how unpredictable and competitive the Brownlow Medal count can be, and this year will be no different.

“Nick Daicos enjoyed his best season yet at just 21 years of age, while ‘The Bont’ remained as consistent as ever after coming so close last year.

“Previous winners Patrick Cripps and Lachie Neale continued to go to new heights in 2024 – you cannot split them. Could we see Lachie become the fifth-ever player to win a third Brownlow Medal?

“We’re in for an unbelievable finish,” O’Keeffe added.

“With innovative broadcast technology — including the return of the Sparklebot slow-motion camera on the red carpet the 2024 Brownlow Medal broadcast will be one to remember.”

Who are the favourites to win the Brownlow medal?

The Brownlow Medal is without a doubt one of the fiercest pub-argument ‘fire-starters’ there is, and the 2024 instalment will be no different.

One man who has a vested interest in knowing just who the favourites are, and who could jump out of the pack to spring a boilover is TAB’s Gerard Daffy.

“The Brownlow Medal has stood the test of time as an event, and as something people like to argue about with their mates,” Daffy said.

“This event is always a massive betting proposition for TAB because there are so many arguments for who should grab the points each week.

“When hot favourite Isaac Heeney got suspended it threw the market wide open and Nick Daicos (Collingwood) and Patrick Cripps (Carlton) became equal top picks.

Lachie Neale of the Lions gives a speech after being awarded the 2023 Brownlow Medal.
Lachie Neale of the Lions gives a speech after being awarded the 2023 Brownlow Medal. Credit: Getty.

“But this week we have taken a massive bet on Lachie Neale who has firmed into $8 second-favourite with one punter standing to win $153,000 if the Brisbane Lion takes home the medal.”

Although the money has been favouring the top three or four contenders Daffy said there are two players to keep an eye on during the vote count that may surprise.

“Caleb Serong looked to grab a stack of votes during this season and is great value in the betting, but there is a guy from Sydney who I think could give some of them a fright,” Daffy said.

“Errol Gulden is an absolute bolter at $81 to win the Brownlow, but don’t forget he was probably polling plenty of two-point games behind Isaac Heeney who is now ineligible.”

What time does the Brownlow Medal broadcast start in each State?

Want to know where to watch all the Brownlow Medal coverage live and free?

Set your reminders and tune in via:

  • Victoria: 7.30pm on Channel 7 and 7plus
  • NSW and QLD: 7.30pm on 7mate and 7plus
  • South Australia: 7pm on Channel 7 and 7plus
  • Western Australia: 5.30pm on 7mate and 7plus

What a week

MELBOURNE, AUSTRALIA - SEPTEMBER 30: Darcy Moore of the Magpies and Craig McRae, Senior Coach of the Magpies poses with the Premiership Cup after the 2023 AFL Grand Final match between Collingwood Magpies and Brisbane Lions at Melbourne Cricket Ground, on September 30, 2023, in Melbourne, Australia. (Photo by Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images)
Darcy Moore of the Magpies and Craig McRae celebrate last year’s win for Collingwood Credit: Darrian Traynor/AFL Photos/via Getty Images

The Brownlow Medal marks the beginning of AFL football’s biggest week, leading into the AFL Grand Final on Saturday, September 28 at the MCG.

Coverage will be available free to air on Channel 7 and 7plus of the grand final week hype, with episodes of Talking Footy, The Front Bar and Armchair Experts available to stream on 7plus, along with exclusive player interviews, match previews, reviews, and more AFL content on demand.

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Revolting. Despicable. Disgusting. Why anniversary rallies must be banned.