"P. Dangerfield, three votes".
Those who have tuned into the AFL's Brownlow Medal count over the years have officially heard that phrase more than any other player.
During the 2025 iteration of the event, which saw Gold Coast's Matt Rowell claim 'Charlie', Dangerfield became the most three-vote player in history, leapfrogging former teammate and AFL icon Gary Ablett Jr.
Dangerfield levelled with Ablett in Round 4 after kicking three goals and gathering 20 disposals against Melbourne, and moved past the little maestro in Round 8.
The 2016 Brownlow medallist was deemed the most influential in the narrow win over Collingwood, gathering 29 possessions and a goal to take his tally to 56 three-vote matches.
Most 3-vote games in history
Dangerfield has taken the mantle as the umpires' favourite, although Lachie Neale (54) and Marcus Bontempelli (52) aren't too far behind.
- Patrick Dangerfield* (Adelaide/Geelong) - 56*
- Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong/Gold Coast) - 55 games
- Lachie Neale* (Fremantle/Brisbane) - 54*
- Marcus Bontempelli* (Western Bulldogs) - 52*
- Chris Judd (West Coast/Carlton) - 46
- Gary Dempsey (Footscray/North Melbourne) - 45
- Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn/West Coast) - 45
- Robert Harvey (St Kilda) - 45
- Dustin Martin (Richmond) - 42
- Nat Fyfe (Fremantle) - 42
(Retrieved from AFL Tables)
*Still playing
Most Brownlow Medal votes all-time
The veteran still has a chance to take over Ablett's outstanding record in 2026, while Bontempelli has entered the top 10 for most Brownlow votes ever.
- Gary Ablett Jnr (Geelong/Gold Coast) - 262 votes
- Patrick Dangerfield* (Adelaide/Geelong) - 259*
- Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn/West Coast) - 227
- Lachie Neale (Fremantle/Brisbane)* - 225*
- Scott Pendlebury* (Collingwood) - 225*
- Gary Dempsey (Footscray/North Melbourne) - 218.5 (adj)
- Robert Harvey (St Kilda) - 215
- Joel Selwood (Geelong) - 214
- Dustin Martin (Richmond) - 213
- Marcus Bontempelli* (Western Bulldogs) - 213*
(Retrieved from AFL Tables)
*Still playing
