Lachie Neale crowned Brownlow Medal winner

BRISBANE star Lachie Neale has been crowned the 2023 Brownlow Medallist, winning the award on thirty-one votes on Monday evening.

In what was a thrilling count, the Lions midfielder finished on the podium ahead of Marcus Bontempelli on 29 votes and second-year sensation Nick Daicos who had 28 votes.

One year after returning to the event’s traditional venue, players congregated at Melbourne’s Crown Palladium with the Lions the only team missing as they remained in Brisbane ahead of Saturday’s Grand Final.

Given he was stationed in Brisbane, Neale was presented the award by Lions coach Chris Fagan.

Having won the award in 2020, the inside midfielder becomes the 16th multiple time winner and the first since Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe in 2015 and 2019 to achieve the feat.

The 30-year-old is averaging 26.9 disposals, 8.1 clearances and 4.1 tackles a game and he’ll now gear up for the 2023 AFL Grand Final against Collingwood.

It’s the latest of many awards for Neale, who has a Leigh Matthews Trophy, AFLCA Champion Player of The Year and three All-Australian gongs to go with his two Brownlows.

In other awards given out on Monday night, GWS’ Harry Himmelberg won Mark of the Year, while Will Ashcroft won Goal of the Year for his effort against Fremantle in round seven.

Carlton’s Sam Docherty won the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.

2023 Brownlow Medal top 10.

1 – Lachie Neale (Brisbane) – 31 votes

2 – Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) – 29 votes

3 – Nick Daicos (Collingwood) – 28 votes

4 – Errol Gulden (Sydney) – 27 votes

4 – Zak Butters (Port Adelaide) – 27 votes

6 – Christian Petracca (Melbourne) – 26 votes

7 – Caleb Serong (Fremantle) – 24 votes

7 – Jack Viney (Melbourne) – 24 votes

9 – Patrick Cripps (Carlton) – 22 votes

9 – Noah Anderson (Gold Coast) – 22 votes

– SEN