Lachie Neale wins second Brownlow Medal with 31 votes

Lachie Neale entered rare air after capturing his second Brownlow Medal, but it was his speech that truly stole the show.

Brisbane Lions superstar Lachie Neale has pulled off a stunning upset after claiming his second Brownlow Medal.

Neale entered the night as the fifth favourite to capture the AFL's highest individual honour but quickly flipped the markets on their heads with his early voting spree.

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Collingwood’s Nick Daicos sat with a lead but could do nothing as several stars reeled in his lead over the final six weeks of the season.

Neale drew level in the second last round before edging clear with the final votes of the night as he finished on 31 votes, two clear of Marcus Bontempelli on 29 with Daicos third on 28.

The victory on Monday night sees him join an elite group of only 16 players to win multiple Brownlow Medals while he becomes the first Brisbane player to win multiple.

He’s done it again. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

“Thank you to the whole footy club. Thank you to my family. My mum, my dad. Step dad Brett. Step mum Deb. There’s a few to thank but my family are such a big support for me,” Neale said.

“My brothers and sisters. I’ve got too many to name. But I love you all. Thank you so much. Can’t wait to see my whole family together this weekend. It will be amazing. So looking forward to that.

“To Jules, my wife. She’s my rock. She puts up with way too much from me. So thank you very much. I love you. Yeah, I can’t put into words what you do for me, and how well you let me do my job and support me. So thank you very much.

“Um...I’m sort of done, I think. I’m exhausted. I need to get to bed. I hope you have a great night in Melbourne. Sorry I’m not there ... I’m not actually that sorry. I’m pumped that I’m not there.”

Jules and Lachie celebrate. (Photo by Albert Perez/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

Brownlow Medal Final Leaderboard

1: Lachie Neale (31)

2: Marcus Bontempelli (29)

3: Nick Daicos (28)

4: Errol Gulden (27)

4: Zak Butters (27)

5: Christian Petracca (26)

10.25pm - It’s tense at Crown

Christian Petracca thought he had some votes in the bag after an electric display in round 21, but it wasn’t to be as his teammates stormed in to take the votes away.

He could only shake his head as his chances of surpassing Nick Daicos dwindled.

With only three rounds left to come we’re set to go right down to the wire with a tie heavily on the cards here.

It's getting to this part of the night now 😅#Brownlowpic.twitter.com/njWMDtUp6h

— AFL (@AFL) September 25, 2023

10.15pm - Daicos now clinging to the lead

That’s all that we’ll see from the Collingwood second-year superstar for the rest of the count and he’s currently holding a three vote lead.

Petracca has two genuine vote getting games to come over the final six rounds, Neale has three. Will it be enough to reel him in or are we staring down the barrel of another Brownlow tie?

9.45pm - Neale at Winx-like odds now

Lachie Neale looks all but set to add a second Brownlow Medal to his trophy cabinet if the betting markets are anything to go by.

With 14 rounds in the books, Neale sits one vote clear of Christian Petracca with as many as six hot games to finish out the season.

Nick Daicos is about to kick off a stunning four weeks but then he won’t poll for the remainder of the season. Will a potential 28 votes be enough?

9.20pm - Daicos’ heartbreak at early vote misses

We see it every single year, but early in the 2023 Brownlow Medal there have been some eyebrow raising votes handed out.

Lachie Neale landed three votes despite a horror display in round 6, Christian Petracca secured the three after a semi-decent outing in round 8.

But it’s been the misses from Nick Daicos that may ultimately cost him the silverware in an absolute Brownlow shocker.

Against the Lions in round 4 he had 38 touches and kicked two goals, but received no votes. In round 9 against the Giants he had 41 touches but also received no votes.

Nick Daicos has 38 touches and kicks 2 goals v Brisbane. No votes.

41 touches v Giants (in easy win) no votes.

He’ll have to settle for Premiership medallion on Saturday. I’m sure he’ll be ok with that.

Go Pies #Brownlow

— Peter Helliar (@pjhelliar) September 25, 2023

9.15pm - Is it already down to a two-horse race?

Punters are already counting out Nick Daicos and Zak Butters. Marcus Bontempelli remains a chance, but in the eyes of many it’s down to only two men.

Brisbane’s Lachie Neale and Melbourne’s Christian Petracca loom as the two men who will be taking the prestigious award home.

It would be a second Brownlow Medal for Neale and a first for Petracca.

8.40pm - The stars are up and about after five

Nick Daicos wasted no time in polling early votes and holds the early lead after five rounds, only missing votes in one round.

Melbourne’s Christian Petracca is nipping at his heels as a host of stars sit close behind.

It's the start of Petracca however that has captured the eye of footy fans with many predicting him to have a slightly slower start than other stars before storming home in the second half of the season.

AFL ratings on social media are predicting the Melbourne star to reign supreme after his hot start.

Great start for Petracca. Was 4.1% to be the leader after Round 5 per @StatsInsider's numbers - he's on 9 votes, just behind Daicos on 10 (was 70.5% to be leader). #Brownlow

— Max Laughton (@maxlaughton) September 25, 2023

8.15pm - Strap in folks, the votes are coming

The time has finally arrived, it’s Gillon McLachlan’s time to shine and for the last time he’ll be reading out the votes.

8pm - Toby Greene drops Red Carpet bombshell

The GWS Giants skipper and his partner Georgia announced some magical news on the Brownlow Medal red carpet.

Greene announced he and his partner are pregnant with a little bub on the way.

Baby Greene makes it’s red carpet debut 🧡 #Brownlowpic.twitter.com/lHqsN1ocTg

— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) September 25, 2023

7pm - Cousins warms hearts

2005 Medallist Ben Cousins, in his first appearance in Melbourne since winning the prestigious award, has brought his sister Melanie in a heartwarming move.

Speaking to The Australian earlier this week, Cousins said he wanted to take advantage of the chances he had been given in life.

It comes after Cousins took up presenting Seven’s morning sport bulletin in Perth, with colleagues describing him as “keen to learn”.

Ben Cousins took his sister in a heartwarming move. Photo by Michael Klein.

6.30pm - Collingwood power couples turn heads

Scott and Alex Pendlebury, routinely best on ground for footy’s night of nights, have once again dropped jaws with their look, with Alex rocking an orange mock sheer number from Oglia-Loro, responsible for many of the Brownlow Medal looks.

The last time Collingwood won a premiership, she also wore orange to the Brownlow Medal - an omen, perhaps?

Darcy Moore has stepped out with Triple J radio host Dee Salmin as expected, with Salmin wearing a two-piece iridescent gown.

Medal favourite, second-year star Nick Daicos has been upstaged by his older brother Josh, whose date and girlfriend Annelise Dalins brought the house down in a sheer baby blue dress.

The Pendlebury family always go well on the red carpet. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

Josh Daicos and his partner, model Annalise Dalins Photo by Michael Klein.

5.45pm - Attendees begin arriving, Buckley stuns

The red carpet has begun to fill out, with former Collingwood coach Nathan Buckley making his red carpet debut with partner Brodie Ryan.

Ryan, wearing an emerald green shiny structured strapless dress, stunned the red carpet, while Buckley played it safe in a black tuxedo.

Brodie Ryan and Nathan Buckley arrive at the 2022 Brownlow. (Photo by Quinn Rooney/Getty Images)

4.30pm – Collingwood captain steps out with ABC star

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore has stepped out on the red carpet with Triple J star Dee Salmin.

Salmin has hosted the sex and relationships segment “The Hook Up” on the national broadcaster since January 2022, and has worked as a reporter and producer at Triple J since February 2021.

The pair stepped out earlier this year at the opening night of the Melbourne run of Moulin Rouge at the Regent Theatre in August, holding hands as they entered.

Collingwood captain Darcy Moore and Triple J host Dee Salmin. Photo by Michael Klein.

4pm – Brayshaws snub footy’s night of nights

Melbourne star Angus Brayshaw, still recovering from a sickening collision with Collingwood’s Brayden Maynard in the Dees’ qualifying final loss, is reported to ditch the biggest night of the year alongside fiancee Danielle Frawley, News Corp.

The pair will be replaced at the Melbourne table by inside midfielder Jack Viney and his wife, Charlotte.