Brisbane midfielder Lachie Neale has added another piece of silverware to his cabinet after a stellar grand final performance against Sydney secured the 2024 Gary Ayres medal for best finals player.
Neale, along with teammate Dayne Zorko, were trailing behind Sydney star Isaac Heeney as the most likely winners following Saturday's match, despite the decider's 1.5x loading.
Heeney's less-than-modest outing saw the award up for grabs, which the two-time Brownlow medallist snatched, as well as the premiership medallion following the 60-point victory at the MCG.
Will Ashcroft joined Neale on 13.5 votes (9x1.5) while goalkickers Callum Ah Chee (7.5 votes) and Kai Lohmann (6) featured also.
Not a single Swans player received a vote from the coaches.
Sydney vs Brisbane
(AFL Grand Final votes issued will receive 1.5 times loading)
13.5 - Will Ashcroft (BL)
13.5 - Lachie Neale (BL)
7.5 - Callum Ah Chee (BL)
6 - Kai Lohmann (BL)
3 - Brandon Starcevich (BL)
1.5 - Joe Daniher (BL)
2024 Gary Ayres LEADERBOARD
| VOTES | PLAYER | CLUB |
| 26.5 | Lachie Neale | Brisbane |
| 20 | Isaac Heeney | Sydney |
| 18.5 | Will Ashcroft | Brisbane |
| 15 | Jai Newcombe | Hawthorn |
| 15 | Dayne Zorko | Brisbane |
| 12.5 | Callum Ah Chee | Brisbane |
| 10 | Jase Burgoyne | Port Adelaide |
| 10 | Max Holmes | Geelong |
| 9 | Hugh McCluggage | Brisbane |
Gary Ayres medal previous winners
| YEAR | PLAYER | CLUB |
| 2023 | Sam Walsh (23) | Carlton |
| 2022 | Patrick Dangerfield (22) | Geelong |
| 2021 | Jack Macrae (25) | Western Bulldogs |
| 2020 | Dustin Martin (28) | Richmond |
| 2019 | Dustin Martin (19) | Richmond |
| 2018 | Steele Sidebottom (23) | Collingwood |
| 2017 | Dustin Martin (25) | Richmond |
| 2016 | Josh Kennedy (18) | Sydney |
