The 2024 Brownlow medal count was as interesting as it was surprising.
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps was awarded his second medal after a record-breaking 45 votes, topping previous records by Dustin Martin (2017) and Ollie Wines' (2021) 36.
Ironically, fellow favourite Nick Daicos also made history by receiving 38 votes for his efforts throughout 2024, but to no avail, as the Blues champion stormed home in an anti-climatic count.
Many pundits believed there would be multiple winners, while Marcus Bontempelli (19) and Lachie Neale (22) weren't even close, raising many eyebrows throughout the evening.
From unexpected threes to missing out to even potentially naming the wrong brother, we'll take you through the many shocks delivered on Brownlow medal night.
A good indication of where the votes might get allocated is the AFL Coaches Association's champion player award, topped by Daicos, Cripps, Isaac Heeney, Caleb Serong and Neale.
Of the top five, four of these remained toward the top of the Brownlow medal count, with Zak Butters replacing Neale.
But just because the coaches saw it one way doesn't mean the umpires agreed.
Overall, there were 16 instances of players getting three votes from the umpires but none from the coaches, and 18 occasions where players picked up a perfect 10 from the coaches but got no love from the umpires.
St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall featured prominently in the list below of shocks and surprises, while Zak Butters was mainly favoured by the umpires instead of the coaches.
Curiously, GWS match-winner Brent Daniels received no Brownlow votes despite multiple games of influence throughout 2024.
Round 1
St Kilda ruckman Rowan Marshall received three votes for his performance (19 touches, 36 hit-outs and five clearances) but was overlooked by the coaches.
Round 2
Marcus Bontempelli and Zak Butters were also denied the chocolates for their extraordinary efforts.
The 'Bont' gathered 32 disposals and 11 clearances and kicked two goals for no votes despite receiving the maximum 10 votes from the coaches.
Butters the same for his 34 touches, seven clearances and a goal.
Round 3
On the other end of the spectrum, Melbourne superstar Christian Petracca got three votes for his performance over Port Adelaide but received no recognition from the coaches.
Round 4
Entering Gather Round, Richmond's Shai Bolton nearly dragged the club over the line with four goals and 19 possessions, a perfect game in the coach's eyes.
No Brownlow votes.
Round 5
Essendon put Sam Durham to Bontempelli and good effect, holding the Bulldogs champion to a measly 17 touches. 10 coaches votes. No Brownlow votes.
Fremantle captain Alex Pearce lived the same fate, proving to be an intercept machine in the loss to the Power. 10 coaches votes. No Brownlow votes.
In the same game, Butters wasn't recognised by the coaches but was seen favourably by the umpires.
Round 6
Geelong small forward Tyson Stengle had mixed reviews for his 17-disposal, two-goal performance in the wet at the Gabba against Brisbane.
10 coach's votes. No Brownlow votes.
Round 7
Power youngster Jase Burgoyne impressed Ken Hinkley and Ross Lyon. But not the umpires.
Round 8
Chad Warner's performance against cross-town rivals lived a similar fate to that of Burgoyne a week ago, while Bulldogs defender Bailey Dale flipped the script, receiving maximum votes on Brownlow night but none from the coaches.
On the same weekend, Melbourne forward Harrison Petty (13 touches and a goal) received the three Brownlow votes for a lowly statistical game. Petty did receive one coach's vote but wouldn't be the first pick in many pundits' eyes.
Round 12
Gold Coast ball-winning machine Sam Flanders received no love from Damien Hardwick or Brad Scott in the club's win over Essendon. And yet the umpires saw his 33 disposals differently.
Round 13
Hawthorn's Will Day received maximum votes from the coaches for his efforts against GWS. His teammate James Worpel received none. The latter was rewarded with three Brownlow votes; Day received none.
Carlton's Tom De Koning lived a similar story to that of Day, who, despite 24 touches, 19 hit-outs and 11 clearances, wasn't recognised by the umpires.
The opposite happened to St Kilda's Rowan Marshall, who made up for missed games with three Brownlow votes but didn't make an impression on the coaches.
Ironically, winner Patrick Cripps received two votes for a measly performance by his standards, gathering 19 touches (47.4 per cent efficiency).
Another interesting note was the fact that Collingwood's Nick Daicos received a singular Brownlow vote in the King's Birthday clash against Melbourne. Daicos was subbed out during the third term and was kept to 15 touches by Alex-Neal Bullen. When announced, it prompted followers to believe the umpires got the wrong Daicos, with Josh gathering 34 touches, six clearances and five inside 50s.
Round 15
Dayne Zorko. An All-Australian in 2024 that was repaid by receiving 12 votes, including three against the Power at Adelaide Oval. However, the coaches didn't see it that way.
Round 16
There's not much more Izak Rankine could've done in the shock win over GWS. 27 touches, six clearances and 2.3. The coaches raved about the Crow's performance. The umpires didn't.
Round 17
St Kilda's Mattaes Phillipou (26 touches, five clearances and a goal) put together a stellar individual performance, resulting in 10 coaches votes. But no Brownlow votes.
GWS' Tom Green (33 possessions, six clearances and a goal) and Sydney's Errol Gulden (28 disposals) were overlooked by the coaches but seen favourably in the eyes of the umpires.
Round 18
A trifecta of the game's stars was given the nod by the four adjudicating umpires in their respective games. Zak Butters (35 touches and a goal), Jai Newcombe (16 disposals, eight tackles and a goal) and Tom Green (37 possessions). But no coaches vote.
The same can't be said for Suns midfielder Noah Anderson (29 touches, 11 clearances and a goal), who maxed out the chocolates from both coaches but was denied any love from the umpires.
Round 19
Zak Butters featured prominently throughout this article and did so again in Round 19, receiving no coach votes but earning the three Brownlow votes for his 28 possessions against Richmond.
Bulldogs hard-nut Tom Liberatore lived the same life against Geelong.
Round 20
St Kilda's Cooper Sharman was a big reason for the win over the Bombers, kicking three crucial goals from 21 disposals and 10 marks. 10 coaches votes; no Brownlow votes.
Round 21
The unheralded Power midfielder is still without a Brownlow vote, which most thought would come against the Swans in the 112-point rout.
Willem Drew gathered 32 disposals and eight clearances, maxing out the coach's votes only to be overlooked by the umpires.
The same can be said for Bomber Jye Caldwell (32 touches and six tackles) in the one-point win over Fremantle.
Round 22
Despite a lowly statistical game (14 possessions and eight tackles), Adelaide midfielder Sam Berry received maximum love from the quartet of umpires for his efforts against the Bulldogs. The coaches didn't see it that way.
The opposite can be said for Giants youngster James Peatling (20 touches and nine clearances), who was shown love by the coaches but not the umpires.
Round 23
GWS' livewire Brent Daniels wasn't recognised by the umpires for his three-goal, 29-disposal match-winning performance over Fremantle, with the coaches splitting the maximum votes between him and teammate Jesse Hogan.
Round 24
Sydney's Nick Blakey couldn't have done much more than 32 disposals, 14 marks and two goals to help his club secure the minor premiership with a win over the Crows. The coaches viewed it as a perfect game. The umpires didn't.
3 Brownlow votes, no coaches votes
Round 1:ย Rowan Marshall v Geelong
Round 3:ย Christian Petracca v Port Adelaide
Round 5:ย Zak Butters v Fremantle
Round 8:ย Bailey Dale v Hawthorn
Round 12:ย Sam Flanders v Essendon
Round 13:ย James Worpel v GWS,ย Rowan Marshall v Gold Coast
Round 15:ย Dayne Zorko v Port Adelaide
Round 17:ย Errol Gulden v St Kilda,ย Tom Green v Carlton
Round 18:ย Zak Butters v Gold Coast,ย Jai Newcombe v Fremantle,ย Tom Green v Richmond
Round 19:ย Zak Butters v Richmond,ย Tom Liberatore v Geelong
Round 22:ย Sam Berry v Western Bulldogs
10 coaches votes, no Brownlow votes
Round 2: Marcus Bontempelli v Gold Coast, Zak Butters v Richmond
Round 4:ย Shai Bolton v St Kilda
Round 5:ย Sam Durham v Western Bulldogs,ย Alex Pearce v Port Adelaide
Round 6:ย Tyson Stengle v Brisbane
Round 7:ย Jase Burgoyne v St Kilda
Round 8:ย Chad Warner v GWS
Round 13:ย Will Day v GWS,ย Tom De Koning v Essendon
Round 16:ย Izak Rankine v GWS
Round 17:ย Mattaes Phillipou v Sydney
Round 18:ย Noah Anderson v Port Adelaide
Round 20:ย Cooper Sharman v Essendon
Round 21:ย Willem Drew v Sydney,ย Jye Caldwell v Fremantle
Round 22:ย James Peatling v Brisbane
Round 24:ย Nick Blakey v Adelaide
