Patrick Cripps has smashed the AFL Brownlow votes record, dominating the count and securing his second medal with three rounds left.
The Carlton captain polled 45 votes, including 12 three-vote games out of the 24 rounds, to beat fellow pre-count favourite Nick Daicos of Collingwood by seven on Monday night in Melbourne.
Daicos’ runner-up total of 38 also beat the old record, held jointly by Richmond’s Dustin Martin (2017) and Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (’21).
The 29-year-old is the first player to win two Brownlows playing for Carlton, after he also won the game’s most prestigious individual honour two years ago.
Cripps started his acceptance speech by paying tribute to Daicos, saying “I love watching you play, I enjoy going against you”.
Fittingly, Carlton’s round-21 win over Collingwood was a pivotal moment in the count.
Cripps polled three votes, taking him to 39 and securing the votes record.
Daicos polled two, taking him to 30, meaning the Magpies young gun needed a perfect run over the last three rounds – and for Cripps to grind to a halt – to force a tie.
When Cripps polled two in round 22, Cripps was confirmed the outright winner and he added emphasis to his victory with threes in his last two matches.
“I knew it was my consistent year. I had to go work on my game at the end of last year,” Cripps said.
“I’m so grateful … it’s something I don’t take for granted.”
Cripps called it a full-circle moment, saying he had attended a lunch earlier on Monday that featured eight other Brownlow Medallists.
Among them were fellow West Australian natives Chris Judd and Ben Cousins.
“They’re the two I really looked up to, growing up – they probably inspired me to chase my dream,” Cripps said.
“I said in the lunch I know I’m now in a position to inspire other young kids and I don’t take that lightly.”
In a note to Carlton members soon after the win, coach Michael Voss said Cripps is one of the greatest players in the Blues’ history.
Cripps also complimented Voss in his acceptance speech. After the Blues’ season ended with their elimination final loss to Brisbane, Cripps said of their coach “you are taking the club forward”.
Zak Butters polled 29 for third and after three years of tight finishes, it was an emphatic win for Cripps.
Renowned for putting the Blues on his back when the game is in the balance, Cripps made his fourth All-Australian team this year, named vice-captain and is the 17th player to win multiple Brownlows.
Carlton greats Judd and Greg Williams also won two Brownlows, but Judd won his first medal at West Coast and Williams at Sydney.
Cripps took the outright lead halfway through the season from Sydney star Isaac Heeney, who was ineligible because of his round-17 striking suspension.
Heeney was a big story, especially early in the count, when he raced to 21 votes by round 10 – a Brownlow record.
But Heeney’s charge lost steam through the middle of the season.
Melbourne’s 2021 premiership star Angus Brayshaw, who had to leave the game before this season started because of repeated concussions, proposed an emotional toast on behalf of his fellow players who have also retired this year.
High-flying Collingwood forward Bobby Hill won mark of the year and, in his debut season, West Coast midfielder Harley Reid claimed goal of the year.
The Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award was also presented during the Brownlow function to Adelaide ruckman Reilly O’Brien.
BROWNLOW MEDAL TOP 10
1. Patrick Cripps (Carl) 45
2. Nick Daicos (Coll) 38
3. Zak Butters (PA) 29
=4. Caleb Serong (Fre), Isaac Heeney (Syd, ineligible) 28
6. Tom Green (GWS) 27
7. Adam Treloar (WB) 26
=8. Errol Gulden (Syd), Matt Rowell (GC) 25
10. Jai Newcombe (Haw) 24
