A lawyer has emerged as the key figure in a Brownlow medal controversy that capped off one of the closest vote counts in AFL history.
Carlton's Patrick Cripps has won the 2022 Brownlow Medal in the most nail-biting finish to a vote count in recent memory.
The Blues skipper was one of the favourites to win the AFL's highest individual accolade, but the lead changed countless times during a thrilling ceremony in Melbourne on Sunday night.
Watch every match of the AFLW Season LIVE on Kayo. New to Kayo? Start your free trial now >
Cripps recovered from early disappointments to move to the top of the leaderboard halfway through the count and was tied with Brisbane's Lachie Neale and Melbourne's Clayton Oliver on 16 votes after Round 10.
It was a topsy-turvy vote count that went right down to the final round, with Neale and Gold Coast's Touk Miller tied on 27 votes with one round remaining.
But there was one final twist as Cripps received the maximum three votes to take the lead on 29 votes in the very last game of the AFL season - Carlton's one point loss to Collinwood that crushed the Blues' hopes of making finals.
He finished one vote ahead of Neale and two clear of Miller in the closest Brownlow count in years. Cripps is the first Carlton player to win the Brownlow since Chris Judd in 2010.
Cripps can thank Carlton's lawyer, who managed to successfully appeal a two-game suspension in a marathon hearing, allowing him to play the last two games of the season and win the Brownlow.
The 27-year-old's defence counsel Chris Townshend QC became a central figure in Brownlow medal conversations on social media as fans re-visited the controversial ruling that allowed Cripps to avoid suspension and remain eligible to win the league's top individual award.
The AFL appeals board last month overturned a tribunal’s decision to issue a two-match ban for Cripps' bump on Brisbane's Callum Ah Chee, who was concussed in the incident.
He was also arguably fortunate to receive three votes in Carlton's 29-point loss to Adelaide in Round 20.
Earlier, AFL stars and their partners arrived on the red carpet - check out all the glamorous looks here.
Brownlow Medal final result
1. Patrick Cripps (29 votes)
2. Lachie Neale (28 votes)
4. Andrew Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver (25 votes)
6. Christian Petracca (24 votes)
7. Callum Mills (21 votes)
8. Jeremy Cameron (19 votes)
9. Zach Merrett (17 votes)
10. Dion Prestia (16 votes)
It's getting seriously close, with the vote count set to go down to the wire in a thrilling finish.
Patrick Cripps leads by one vote and with all the contenders in touch, a tie isn't out of the question.
This is nuts.
— JAKE BUCKLEY 🇦🇺 (@TheMasterBucks) September 18, 2022
Three or four way tie anyone? 👀#Brownlow
Patrick Cripps (26 votes)
Andrew Brayshaw (25 votes)
Touk Miller (24 votes)
Lachie Neale (24 votes)
Christian Petracca (21 votes)
Clayton Oliver (20 votes)
Essendon ruckman Sam Draper has won the Goal of the Year for his sensational running goal against Gold Coast.
Lachie Neale leads the count by one vote after Round 13 and with all the favourites within reach, the count looks like it could well go down to the wire.
Lachie Neale (21 votes)
Andrew Brayshaw (20 votes)
Patrick Cripps (18 votes)
Clayton Oliver (18 votes)
Christian Petracca (15 votes)
Touk Miller (14 votes)
Cats captain Joel Selwood has won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his work in the Geelong community.
He is the longest serving club captain in AFL history and will lead Geelong in next Saturday's Grand Final against the Sydney Swans.
Patrick Cripps, Lachie Neale and Clayton Oliver are in a three-way tie for the lead on 16 votes after 10 rounds. Here's the leaderboard as it stands:
Patrick Cripps (16 votes)
Lachie Neale (16 votes)
Clayton Oliver (16 votes)
Christian Petracca (15 votes)
Andrew Brayshaw (12 votes)
Callum Mills (11 votes)
The vote count is underway and Adelaide's Ben Keays is a surprise early leader after five rounds, tied with Fremantle's Andrew Brayshaw and Christian Petracca.
Adelaide fans: “Stop the count!” #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/2HMYKAPKRh
— TAB (@tabcomau) September 18, 2022
Andrew Brayshaw (9 votes)
Ben Keays (9 votes)
Christian Petracca (9 votes)
Lachie Neale (8 votes)
Patrick Cripps (7 votes)
Jack Steele (7 votes)
Patrick Cripps was expected to fly out off the blocks but he surprisingly only received one vote for what many thought was a best on ground performance in Round 1 against Richmond.
The @StatsInsider numbers had Patrick Cripps 70% to get three votes in Round 1. Got one. Setback.
— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) September 18, 2022
P Cripps not best on in round 1… sorry wot? 🤔
— Georgie Parker (@georgieparker) September 18, 2022
Cripps already robbed, how was this performance only 1 vote. #Brownlow pic.twitter.com/hV1QeIDJhl
— Basil Zoccali (@BasilZoccali) September 18, 2022
Patrick Cripps 30 and 3 goals and gets 1 vote. 😂
— Nic Negrepontis (@NicNegrepontis) September 18, 2022
Umpires.
Cr1pps 👀
— Drew Jones (@DrewJonesFOX) September 18, 2022
It might make it hard for the Carlton skipper to win from here.
Port Adelaide youngster Mitch Georgiades has been awarded the Mark of the Year for his specky in Round 16.
The Brownlow is broadcast on Channel 7 and 7Mate.
The coverage isn't on 7Plus, but you can stream it via Telstra TV, Samsung Tizen, Fetch TV, Apple TV, PlayStation 4 and 5, Android TV/Google TV, LG TV.
The Brownlow Medal red carpet is one of the most glamorous occasions on the Australian sporting calendar, but one thing is different this year.
The TV hosts will not be allowed to ask AFL players and their partners the classic question: "Who are you wearing?"
Rebecca Maddern, Emma Freedman and former Carlton and Collingwood player Dale Thomas are hosting Channel 7's red carpet coverage, and the TV network has called for a change in the style of questioning.
“We have been told no questions about what you are wearing, who you are wearing, why you are wearing,” Freedman told the Herald Sun.
“We are going to focus on the fun and have a little giggle on the red carpet instead of asking that question.”
It's an intriguing change of policy considering viewers are often interested in which designer has crafted a certain dress or suit.
Alas, "who are you wearing" is no more.
Here are the odds for the contenders to take out the Brownlow (Sportsbet).
– Lachie Neale ($2.80)
– Clayton Oliver ($3.75)
– Patrick Cripps ($5.50)
– Andrew Brayshaw ($8)
– Touk Miller ($10)
– Christian Petracca ($13)
A very special ‘plus one’ guest at the dazzling Brownlow Medal night has turned heads.
While there are clear divides between interstate teams and the foundation clubs, the AFL’s on-field product has never been stronger.
Superstar duo Isaac Heeney and Izak Rankine have learned their fates after both took their cases to the AFL Tribunal.