Matthew Rowell has won his first Brownlow Medal in stunning fashion, upsetting heavy favourites Nick Daicos, Bailey Smith and Jordan Dawson to claim the AFL's highest individual honour.

Rowell tallied 39 votes - the second-most in Brownlow history - and recorded eight three-vote performances to cruise to an eight-vote lead over Collingwood star Nick Daicos by Round 22, making a late comeback for the midfield maestro impossible.

The No.1 pick from 2019 became the first player in Brownlow Medal history to poll three votes in each of his first four games, which set up his historic tally.

Daicos was the runner-up for the second year in a row, finishing with 32 votes, while Geelong recruit Bailey Smith's 29 votes rounded out the podium.

Smith featured in 20 home-and-away games in 2025, three fewer than Daicos and Rowell, meaning he averaged 1.45 votes per game, slightly higher than Daicos' 1.39. However, it would have been no match for the Suns superstar, Rowell averaging an extravagant 1.70 votes per game.

Rowell becomes the second Gold Coast player to win the medal, following in the footsteps of the legendary Gary Ablett Jnr, who won the award in 2013.
“I mean it sounds pretty surreal, to be honest. I cannot believe I'm standing up here tonight,” Rowell said on stage at Crown Melbourne following confirmation of his win.
“I think a lot of boys could be standing up here tonight so I feel very humbled and very honoured to be up here.

“I'm pretty speechless.”

Geelong polled the most team votes with 99 for the year, with their Grand Final opponent Brisbane the next highest with 98.

FINAL LEADERBOARD

  1. MATTHEW ROWELL - 39 votes
  2. Nick Daicos - 32
  3. Bailey Smith - 29
  4. Jordan Dawson - 27
  5. Andrew Brayshaw - 26
  6. Noah Anderson - 25
  7. Marcus Bontempelii - 25
  8. Caleb Serong - 25
  9. Max Gawn - 23
  10. Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera - 23

See below how the night unfolded:

Round 24

Three-vote getters

Round 23

Three-vote getters

Matthew Rowell has won the 2025 Brownlow Medal!

Round 22

Three-vote getters

Round 21

Three-vote getters

Round 20

Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera has shockingly polled just two votes for his match-winning efforts against Melbourne. He had 34 disposals, four goals, six clearances and the game-tying then game-winning goal after the siren.

Three-vote getters

Round 19

Three-vote getters

Round 18

Three-vote getters

Round 17

Nick Daicos is now the fastest player in AFL history to reach 100 Brownlow votes!

Three-vote getters

Round 16

Three-vote getters

Round 15

Three-vote getters

Round 14

Three-vote getters

St Kilda vs Western Bulldogs - Matthew Kennedy

Hawthorn vs Adelaide - Josh Weddle

Brisbane vs GWS - Aaron Cadman

Essendon vs Geelong - Bailey Smith

North Melbourne vs Fremantle - Caleb Serong

Port Adelaide vs Melbourne - Mitch Georgiades

West Coast vs Carlton - Patrick Cripps

Round 13

Three-vote getters

Round 12

Three-vote getters

Harris Andrews has won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award!

Round 11

Three-vote getters

Round 10

Three-vote getters

Murphy Reid is the Rising Star winner!

CLICK HERE FOR FULL VOTING BREAKDOWN

1st - Murphy Reid (48 votes)
2nd - Dan Curtin (35 votes)
3rd - Levi Ashcroft (26 votes)
4th - Harvey Langford (20 votes)
5th - Connor O'Sullivan (15 votes)

Round 9

Matthew Rowell has now polled three votes in three games where he received ZERO coaches votes.

Three-vote getters

Round 8

Patrick Dangerfield has broken Gary Ablett's record for the most three-vote games in Brownlow history, recording his 56th against Collingwood!

Three-vote getters

Sam Darcy has won Mark of the Year!

Noah Anderson has won Goal of the Year!

Round 7

Three-vote getters

Round 6

Three-vote getters

Round 5

Matthew Rowell becomes the first player in history to poll a perfect three votes in the first four games of a season. He's got 12 already.

Three-vote getters

Round 4

Patrick Dangerfield ties Gary Ablett Jnr for the most three-vote games in AFL history, notching his 55th against Melbourne.

Three-vote getters

Round 3

Three-vote getters

Round 2

Three-vote getters

Round 1

Three-vote getters

Richmond's Jack Ross surprisingly polls zero votes for his 28 disposals and two goals against Carlton.

Opening Round

Three-vote getters

Pre-Event

Essendon captain Zach Merrett spoke with Fox Footy on the red carpet about the developing story of his potential exit from the Bombers, but said he plans to attend Essendon's best-and-fairest next week.

"It's been a difficult time for me and my family, dealing with things largely in the media. I'm in constant dialogue with the club. I've felt their support behind closed doors which has been amazing," Merrett said.

"I still feel the love [at Essendon]. It's a place I absolutely adore and have for 12 years.

"What happens beyond that, I don't know yet, but I still love it regardless and still feel like Brad [Scott] has love for me and support for me. We'll work through what's next for all of us."

See below some of the glamour from tonight's red carpet!

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