2022 treated us to one of the closest and unexpected Brownlow counts in recent times, with the winner still unknown when Gil McLachlan started the count for Round 23's votes. However, a best-on-ground performance in the final weekend against Collingwood saw Patrick Cripps narrowly win by a singular vote over Lachie Neale.
This year's Brownlow night is looming to be even more interesting than last year's.
Nick Daicos was the clear favourite to win the Brownlow Medal coming into Round 21, having played the most tantalising season out of all the contenders. However, a knee injury sustained against Hawthorn is expected to keep him out until halfway through September, leaving the door wide open for other contenders.
With three games to play out for the season, the race is on to see if Daicos holds on to his lead or if another player can catch up. Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca both loom as the biggest threats to Daicos currently, but gaps in their performances, as well as other teammates anticipated to earn votes, may jeopardise their chances.
According to our MVP leaderboard, there are nine players who will poll heavily on Brownlow night.
We assess how Daicos, Botempelli and Petracca could fare come the AFL's 'night of nights' and which dark horses could still be in the running.
3. Christian Petracca
Petracca looms as the most likely next to Bontempelli to take home the medal, yet his teammates also threaten to spoil his party. Whilst he has been consistent this season, Jack Viney, Max Gawn, Angus Brayshaw and Clayton Oliver will all be competing with Petracca for votes.
Round 20 against Richmond will see Harrison Petty potentially take out the maximum votes after his six-goal performance led Melbourne to victory, whilst Gawn's dominance against Adelaide, Brisbane and the Tigers in the ruck also sees Petracca more than likely miss out on the maximum votes despite equally strong performances.
The Demons' win over St Kilda in Round 17 will see Petracca with at least one vote for his four-goal performance, yet teammates Steven May and Angus Brayshaw, as well as St Kilda's Rowan Marshall and Jack Steele, could see Petracca once again miss the three votes.
