Brownlow Medal: Predicting the most votes at each AFL club

The most votes at each club is a very popular element of the Brownlow Medal every year.

We've assessed all 18 clubs and predicted who we believe will top the voting charts.

There are some very short-priced favourites which are hard to look past, but we have provided others to consider just in case.

See our thoughts below:

Most votes prediction: JORDAN DAWSON

The Adelaide captain is a genuine chance to become the Crows’ second Brownlow medallist. After polling 18 votes last year and 20 in 2023, Dawson is set to top that. He has been influential in most of his team’s 18 wins, and judging by his AFLCA Champion Player votes haul (90), he should also attract interest from the umpires. The former Swan has been prolific around the ball, is one of the League’s top tacklers and can swing games with his clutch ability.

Others in the mix: Izak Rankine & Riley Thilthorpe

Andrew Slevison

Most votes prediction: HUGH McCLUGGAGE

Having played in Lachie Neale’s shadow for much of his career, 2025 has finally been the season where McCluggage has been the undoubted star of the Lions’ show. There is a chance he polls two or more votes in double digit games, which puts him in the frame to finish seriously high in the overall count. McCluggage polled 12 votes in 2024, while his previous high was 14 in 2022. He should cruise past that number in 2025.

Others in the mix: Lachie Neale & Will Ashcroft

Lachlan Geleit

Most votes prediction: GEORGE HEWETT

It wasn’t the easiest of years for the Blues, but the former Swan stood up when times were tough. Hewett was incredibly strong in tight, finishing in the top 10 for total clearances and the top five for contested possessions. His 28 disposals and seven clearances a game should be enough for the midfielder to steal votes from Patrick Cripps and Sam Walsh. With multiple games of 35 or more disposals, Hewett should lead all-comers at Carlton.

Others in the mix: Patrick Cripps

Jaiden Sciberras

Most votes prediction: NICK DAICOS

The Collingwood superstar is certain to lead his club’s count for a third successive year, and he will start as the overall favourite. Daicos averages the most Brownlow votes per game of any player in history and could easily poll more than 30 votes this season. He probably would have won in 2023 before injury struck late in the season, while he polled a record 38 votes in 2024 – the only problem was Patrick Cripps also broke the record with 45. So, is 2025 the year this young phenom breaks through?

Others in the mix: Josh Daicos & Steele Sidebottom

Most votes prediction: ZACH MERRETT

The Essendon skipper has polled well in the past and 2025 should be no different. Merrett has received at least 17 votes in the past four counts with his best tally coming in 2021 with 20. He should go close to polling three votes against Melbourne (round five) and North Melbourne (round eight). It will be interesting to see how the midfielder fares against Adelaide in round two with the Bombers losing by 60 points but Merrett booting four goals from 36 disposals.

Others in the mix: Nic Martin

Luke Mathews

Most votes prediction: CALEB SERONG

Serong played a key role in leading his team to to September. Playing every game, Serong was physically dominant on the inside, averaging 27 disposals and eight clearances. Crucially, he led the League in centre clearances while ranking second in total clearances and contested possessions, three statistical feats that often correlate heavily with Brownlow success. Fourth in the 2024 count, can Serong exceed that career-best 28-vote tally in 2025?

Others in the mix: Andrew Brayshaw & Luke Jackson

Jaiden Sciberras

Most votes prediction: BAILEY SMITH

From the moment Smith pulled on the blue and white hoops for the first time and went to work on the Dockers in round one (32 disposals, seven clearances), it was apparent the midfield was his domain – which hadn’t been the case in his last season at the Bulldogs in 2023. In all, the flashy recruit with his equally flashy white headband logged 13 games with 30-plus disposals, including two over 40. Averaged 31.6 disposals, 5.8 clearances and five tackles.

Others in the mix: Max Holmes

Michael Lovett

Most votes prediction: NOAH ANDERSON

The first-year Suns skipper could go very close to taking home the Brownlow. Since assuming the captaincy, Anderson’s game has gone to another level, averaging 30 disposals and seven clearances. His best matches have come against good teams, including a thrilling win over Collingwood in round 18 (32 disposals, eight clearances) and GWS in round 15 when he had 42 touches and kicked two goals. Has one top 10 finish (2023).

Others in the mix: Matt Rowell

Luke Mathews

Most votes prediction: TOM GREEN

Having broken the Giants’ record for the most votes in a season last year with 27, Green has a strong chance of topping that. Across his 22 games, he featured in the top five in the AFL for disposals (29.5 a game) and clearances (8.3), . Standout performances against the Suns in round 15 and Essendon in round 19, where he achieved a stat line of 30-plus disposals, 16 clearances and one goal in both games, should land him maximum votes.

Others in the mix: Finn Callaghan

Nicholas Quinlan

Most votes prediction: JAI NEWCOMBE

Survey a dozen Hawthorn fans about who has been the best-performed hawk in 2025 and you might get a dozen different responses. But the Brownlow isn’t about that and Newcombe, with averages of 22.4 touches and 5.9 clearances, will likely catch the eye of the umpires once again, although he might not reach last year’s career-best 24 votes. With Will Day a non-factor for most of the year, Newcombe has been Hawthorn’s best midfielder in a 15-win season.

Others in the mix: Jarman Impey & Dylan Moore

Ashley Browne

Most votes prediction: MAX GAWN

The captain has been outstanding again this season, culminating in his third club best and fairest. Gawn averaged an impressive 20.7 disposals, 5.3 clearances and 35.9 hit-outs and took 52 contested marks (second in the AFL). Could potentially break his personal best of 20 Brownlow votes (in 2018), with the ruckman being a part of the best-on-ground conversation in all seven of Melbourne’s wins this year.

Others in the mix: Kysaiah Pickett & Christian Petracca

Zac Sharpe

Most votes prediction: TRISTAN XERRI

Just five wins on the season is a disappointing return form the Kangaroos, who will be left scrambling for votes on Brownlow night once again. That said, Xerri’s dominance in the ruck - particularly within the first half of the season - will have the big man leading the way for the Roos in 2025. Pushing the top 10 for clearances on the season, Xerri’s physicality in and around the ball was second to none throughout the season, and with 58 coaches’ votes up to Round 22, it’s hard to imagine that the big man misses out on too many nods.

Others in the mix: Harry Sheezel & Luke Davies-Uniacke

Jaiden Sciberras

Most votes prediction: ZAK BUTTERS

Despite missing the first three games, Butters’ hot form in the run home should see him top Port’s vote count. While he didn’t hit the same heights as 2023 or 2024, the Power vice-captain had an excellent season, averaging 28 disposals and five tackles. He finished fourth in 2023 with 27 votes and third last year with 29. Butters is almost certain to poll three votes in the round 24 win over the Suns and will also go close in the Gather Round win over Hawthorn.

Others in the mix: Connor Rozee

Luke Mathews

Most votes prediction: TIM TARANTO

The ever-consistent Taranto should lead the way for a Tiger team that exceeded expectations. Taranto, who polled 19 votes in 2023, had 27 or more disposals in each of Richmond’s five wins. He was in his team’s best few whenever they won and also played very well in multiple close defeats. It won’t be an enormous bar to top Richmond’s Brownlow votes, but Taranto is a certainty to be the No. 1 man and a strong chance to push his way into the teens.

Others in the mix: Jacob Hopper & Nick Vlastuin

Most votes prediction: NASIAH WANGANEEN-MILERA

Led disposals (688) and uncontested possessions (409) at the Saints, and with 17 goals adding a new element to his game, Wanganeen-Milera has sky-rocketed into contention for a top five finish. What a night it would be if he can genuinely challenge for the Brownlow fresh off re-committing to the Saints for two years. His best performance came as he carried his team over the line against Melbourne in round 20, kicking the last two goals.

Others in the mix: Jack Sinclair

Most votes prediction: BRODIE GRUNDY

Grundy overcame a slow start to be in career-best form throughout the second half of the season. He was No. 3 in stoppage clearances in the AFL and No. 5 in hit-outs, but he really caught fire in that run home, averaging 23.6 disposals, 5.1 marks, 41.2 hit-outs, 8.4 clearances and 4.3 tackles from rounds 13-21 and polling 64 of a possible 80 coaches’ votes. Against Essendon in round 21, he had 39 disposals, eight marks, 32 hit-outs and 13 clearances.

Others in the mix: Isaac Heeney

Brendan Rhodes

Most votes prediction: HARLEY REID

It’s going to be quite hard for West Coast players to attract votes. The Eagles won just once and lost 22 matches, and in most the winners will take the 3-2-1. In their victory over St Kilda in round 10, Liam Baker was arguably best on ground, but he is ineligible. Harley Reid did play pretty well in that game and could land a vote or two. The 2023 No. 1 draft pick was among West Coast’s best in a handful of other games and could add to his seven votes from 2024.

Others in the mix: Liam Baker & Brady Hough

Andrew Slevison

Most votes prediction: MARCUS BONTEMPELLI

After an injury-interrupted start to 2025, the Dogs skipper was his usual self. He is consistently brilliant and no doubt has again attracted significant interest from the umpires. But he missed six matches and that usually costs you individual awards such as the Brownlow. He has polled 188 votes in his career, including 20 or more on four occasions and double figures nine times. There might be a Brownlow one day for the ‘Bont’. It’s unlikely it will be this year though.

Others in the mix: Ed Richards

Andrew Slevison*