This was published 1 year ago
Another Brownlow Medal count is in the books with Lachie Neale now a two-time winner.
That’s all we have for you tonight, thanks so much for joining us and a special thanks for all the people behind the scenes to get to make this blog happen.
We will have much more AFL coverage in the days to come, and we will be back with our AFL grand final blog on Saturday.
Have a lovely evening and bye for now.
Marcus Bontempelli goes close again, but no cigar. It’s fair to say Nick Daicos would have won the medal if not for his late-season injury. Sydney’s Errol Gulden and Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters powered home late to claim top five finishing positions.
The top five on the Brownlow leaderboard.Credit: The Age
Brisbane star Lachie Neale joined an exclusive club of those who’ve won multiple Brownlow Medals after edging Marcus Bontempelli to claim the sport’s highest individual honour in an extraordinary count on Monday night.
Neale, preparing for Saturday’s grand final against Collingwood, added to his 2020 medal by polling 31 votes, ahead of Bontempelli (29) and Nick Daicos (28). Sydney dynamo Errol Gulden (27) stormed home, while Port Adelaide’s Zak Butters (27) also had a strong finish to the season.
Already the fourth Brisbane Lion to win the league’s best and fairest, in 2020, Neale, the Lions’ co-captain, became the 16th player to have claimed multiple medals, and the first since Nat Fyfe had success in 2015 and 2019.
Lachie Neale and his wife Julie react to the win.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
Neale is a proven vote-getter with 156 to his credit through his strong career, finishing runner-up last year, and equal third in 2019. He finished with seven best on grounds to win this year’s count.
“I am pretty rattled to be honest, I didn’t expect this. To be among those who have won two, I didn’t expect this,” Neale said.
“I am exhausted. I can’t wait to get to bed.”
After an impressive season Marcus Bontempelli is still without a Brownlow Medal.
He was once more pipped at the post.
The mood in the Brownlow room in Melbourne was odd.
The Melbourne Demons table gave their best wishes to their own player Petracca - who many thought should have polled votes in the last round - while many got around Bulldog Marcus, who also finished second in 2021 behind Ollie Wines.
With the Brownlow winner not in attendance - and therefore no toasting or congratulations - it made for a strange mood.
Instead of focusing on the winner, there were “get around the ones who missed out” vibes. Keeping in mind, of course, the incredible player that Neale is.
Marcus Bontempelli is pictured during the count in Melbourne.Credit: AFL Photos / Getty Images
Lachie Neale has joined an elite group of 16 players who have won multiple Brownlow Medals.
Seven of those dual medallists have emerged since the league went national and became the AFL.
Here are the seven:
With his new power as a two-time Brownlow medallist, Lachie Neale quickly called time on his post-count interview after his thank-yous were complete.
Neale shows off his prized medal after picking up a Brownlow for a second time. Credit: Getty Images
He does have a grand final to prepare for, so do his teammates.
“I’m exhausted. I need to get to bed,” Neale said.
“But no, thanks, everyone. I hope you have a great night in Melbourne. Sorry I’m not there, or I’m not actually that sorry. I’m pumped that I’m not there.
“I will see you on Saturday but thanks very much, guys. Appreciate it.”
I’m exhausted. I need to get to bed. But no, thanks, everyone. I hope you have a great night in Melbourne. Sorry I’m not there, or I’m not actually that sorry. I’m pumped that I’m not there.”
Neale was asked about his draft year when he fell to pick 58 in 2011.
Neale grew up in South Australia/Victorian border town of Kybybolite and was concerned when his name wasn’t called out in the early rounds.
“Timmy [Glenelg coach Tim Lawrence], he’s a great mentor for me and he told me to control what you can control,” Neale said.
“Don’t worry about those external things like draft camp and things like that, which I didn’t get invited to, and I just tried to put my head down and play some good footy at the back end of my draft year.
“But yeah, even sitting on the couch watching the draft that year, mum came to up me after about pick 40 or something and said “There’s always the rookie draft.” She wasn’t very confident either.”
The top three.Credit: The Age
Brisbane star Lachie Neale says he is “pretty rattled” after winning his second Brownlow Medal and didn’t expect to win this year’s award.
Neale accepted his award in Brisbane as his side prepares for the AFL grand final against Collingwood on Saturday.
I’m sure it will sink in at a later date. I’m pretty rattled to be honest. So apologies if this doesn’t go too well. I did not expect this, and to be amongst some of those names that have won two is unbelievable.”
He won his first Brownlow in 2020 when teams were all away from Melbourne due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Yeah it doesn’t sit very well, at the moment,” Neale said.
“I’m sure it will sink in at a later date. I’m pretty rattled to be honest. So apologies if this doesn’t go too well.
“I did not expect this, and to be amongst some of those names that have won two is unbelievable.”
Understandably, Neale is mostly focused on the grand final.
“I’ve got a great crew here in the room with me,” Neale said.
“My teammates and Fages [Chris Fagan] is here and some people from the club as well. Yeah, it’s a great place to be here, rather than in Melbourne, where we usually are.
“So to be in Brisbane, preparing for a grand final, is amazing.”
A dual Brownlow medallist. Neale polled three votes in the final round to finish in the outright lead. Stunning stuff.
Remarkably, it’s Marcus Bontempelli (29 votes) in second place again.
Lachie Neale.Credit: Getty Images
It was a dramatic finish to the count, even with the winner not even in the room, but in another city. Neale is busy preparing for Saturday’s grand final against Collingwood of course and is looking forward to an early night.
Departing AFL boss Gillon McLachlan soaked up the drama in the final round. Neale needed at least two votes in round 24 to grab the outright lead and McLachlan took as long as possible when Neale had missed out on the two.
Eventually he uttered the famous words - “L Neale, three votes” and all those following the count - in Melbourne and Brisbane - erupted in joy.
Not long after while taking questions via a video link from Brisbane, Neale was sipping waters and his message about being in Brisbane instead of having distractions in Melbourne was clear: “Sorry, not sorry.”
Final leaderboard:
31 - Lachie Neale (Brisbane Lions)
29 - Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
28 - Nick Daicos (Collingwood)
27 - Zak Butters (Port Adelaide)
27 - Errol Gulden (Sydney)
26 - Christian Petracca (Melbourne)
24 - Caleb Serong (Fremantle)
24 - Jack Viney (Melbourne)