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.
4. Tim Taranto
Whilst Richmond most likely won't appear in finals this season, their star acquisition in Taranto will appear heavily on Brownlow night.
However, heavy losses for Richmond threaten to derail his chances, with rivalling players in Daicos, Bontempelli and Petracca all possessing the potential to poll more due to their club's success this season.
Taranto has enjoyed a season of consistent form since moving from GWS, having had at least 108 AFL Fantasy Points in 16 of 20 games this year. Rounds 7-14 were Taranto's strongest and are reflective of Richmond's strongest patch for the season, winning five of those eight games and only narrowly losing the other three games, including by one and 10-point margins to Essendon and Port Adelaide respectively.
Taranto won't poll as well after the bye and despite Richmond winning three games in a row against Sydney, West Coast and Hawthorn, strong performances from Errol Gulden, James Sicily and Toby Nankervis may minimise his chances. Taranto looms as a sleeping giant come Brownlow night, and could be a similar threat like Steele Sidebottom was in the 2018 count.
