Nick Daicos Wins 2026 Brownlow Medal
Collingwood star secures prestigious award with record-breaking vote tally.
Nick Daicos, 23, has won the 2026 Brownlow Medal, awarded to the AFL's best and fairest player. The Collingwood star claimed the honor at the ceremony held at Crown Melbourne on Monday night, receiving 47 votes.
Daicos, who was the betting favorite heading into the night, had narrowly missed out on the award in the previous three seasons. He had already been recognized as player of the season by both the AFL Players Association and the AFL Coaches Association.
His 47-vote total sets a new record for the most votes ever collected by a player in a single Brownlow count. The previous record was held by Carlton's Patrick Cripps, who garnered 45 votes in 2024.
The Brownlow Medal is awarded based on umpires' votes cast after each game, excluding finals matches. Umpires select the three best players on the field, assigning them three, two, or one vote respectively. These votes are kept confidential until the annual count.
