Monday night will see the 2023 Brownlow Medallist announced after another season that boasted a host of exceptional performers.
The likes of Collingwood's Nick Daicos, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli, and Melbourne's Christian Petracca are expected to poll highly this year.
Simultaneously, maiden All-Australians Caleb Serong and Zak Butters have also emerged as smokey contenders, however, the former is ineligible to win due to suspension.
We've put together each side's potential top five vote-getters for this season - predicated on the results of Zero Hanger's 2023 AFL MVP.
Across the course of this season, the Zero Hanger team - consisting of editor Mitch Keating, general manager Nick Splitter, deputy editor Ed Carmine, and digital reporter Jack Jovanovski - voted on every game to establish our AFL MVP for 2023.
Votes were given out on a 5, 4, 3, 2, 1 system for each game, meaning the maximum score any player could record in any game was 20.
With this in mind, explore who's likely to poll the most Brownlow votes for your side on Monday night.
Adelaide
Jordan Dawson enjoyed a breakout season, not only stepping up as Crows captain for the first time but moving into the midfield on a permanent basis.
After starting the season across half-back, Dawson was moved onto the ball in Round 3 and averaged 27 disposals at 71.3 per cent efficiency, 9.4 contested possessions, 3.8 clearances and 6.7 tackles for the year.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Brisbane
The 2020 Brownlow medallist looks set to feature at the top of the list yet again in 2023 following an outstanding season for the Lions.
Neale, a three-time All-Australian, has averaged 27.4 disposals, 8.1 clearances and 4.3 marks a game in 2023, only narrowly missing his fourth All-Australian team selection.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Carlton
Curnow had another incredible season, earning his second All-Australian honour on the back of a 78-goal season which saw him also awarded the Coleman Medal.
In career-best form, Curnow has been an integral part of the Carlton forward line, leading the competition in contested marks and is second for marks inside 50.
With Curnow accomplishing hauls of goals this season including 20 against West Coast, expect C. Curnow to be announced regularly throughout the night.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
Who else?
Collingwood
Daicos was deservedly awarded his first All-Australian blazer this year and is in top contention to walk away with the most prestigious individual award this league has to offer.
Daicos' historic home and away season began with dominant performances in the opening rounds and continued until he injured his knee during Collingwood's Round 21 clash against Hawthorn.
The 20-year-old averaged 31.2 disposals and went at more than 75% disposal efficiency in his second season, while he averaged close to a goal per game with 18 majors from his 20 matches.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
Who else?
Essendon
It was another disappointing end for the Bombers in 2023, but midfield gun Zach Merrett had a fine season in the middle, including some great mid-season form.
In his first year as skipper, the 27-year-old was a standout across his 22 games, averaging 28 disposals, along with five inside 50s, tackles and clearances per game.
Earning his second All-Australian selection, Merrett was able to rise above and finish seventh in the AFL for total effective disposals and ninth for total disposals.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Fremantle
The 22-year-old averaged career-high numbers and led the Dockers for disposals, clearances, contested possessions, and inside 50s, playing all but one game.
Playing alongside star midfielder Andrew Brayshaw, Serong has elevated his game to another level in what was a silver lining in a disappointing Fremantle season.
Serong was named club best and fairest and collected 25 disposals in all of the Dockers wins in 2023.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Geelong
Stewart was phenomenal at the back for the reigning premiers as he worked his way into All-Australian form, and was rightly awarded.
The Cats' vice-captain has taken his game to another level in 2023 averaging 23 disposals per game this season, along with 8.3 marks and 512 metres gained, and finished sixth in the AFL for intercept marks with 75.
While the Brownlow is widely regarded as a midfielder's award, Stewart's defensive presence, ability to lockdown almost any opposing forward, as well as his match-winning ability, should have him collecting plenty of votes on Brownlow night.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
Who else?
Gold Coast
Noah Anderson was brilliant this season in what was a 'roller-coaster' type journey for the Gold Coast Suns.
The 22-year-old took his game up a level in 2023, averaging 27 disposals, six clearances and kicking 14 goals to earn a nomination in the 44-man All-Australian squad.
Anderson was named club champion and was often at the forefront of the stats board whenever the Suns were victorious.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
GWS
Toby Greene notched his best season to date, proving why he is among the competition's elite and widely regarded as one of the best forwards to play the game.
Greene has had a career-best season in terms of goals kicked, slotting 60 goals across the home and away season to finish fourth in the Coleman Medal from 21 games.
The Giants skipper also ranked elite in disposals (17.9 per game) and marks (4.5) to firmly establish himself as one of the competition's very best.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
Who else?
Hawthorn
James Sicily has firmly established himself as one of the competition's toughest defenders, troubling opposing forwards throughout the season.
The 28-year-old has led from the front throughout his first year as skipper, solidifying himself as one of the AFL's best defenders, ranking second in the league for intercept possessions (9.4 per game) and sixth for rebound 50s (6.1 per game) in 2023.
Across his 19 matches this season, Sicily has also averaged 26.4 disposals, at an impressive 83.65% efficiency, along with 9.9 marks, 3.5 intercept marks and 3.8 spoils.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
Who else?
Melbourne
The 27-year-old's transition between midfield and forward was the critical role he's played this year for Melbourne, adopting a hybrid playstyle and impacting in multiple areas of the ground.
The star Demon is averaging 27.9 disposals this season while also booting 27 goals, not to mention his pivotal importance to team football, averaging a league-high 8.6 score involvements.
With Clayton Oliver missing many games this year with an injury, expect Petracca to be awarded more votes than usual and finish toward the top end of the count.
Forward
Disposals
Marks
Goals
Who else?
North Melbourne
Luke Davies-Uniacke excelled on the back of a breakout season in 2022, further establishing himself as a genuine gun of the competition in a much-improved season for the youngster.
The 24-year-old averaged 27.4 disposals, 4.5 tackles and 6.7 clearances per game for the Kangaroos and was one of few bright spots for North Melbourne as they narrowly avoided consecutive wooden spoon.
Despite not winning many games, Davies-Uniacke is expected to poll heavily early and late in the season, when North had the majority of their success.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Port Adelaide
It didn't take long this year for Butters and the Power to prove themselves legitimate threats as the group surged to a top-four finish.
Butters is a contender heading into Monday night after a season in which he averaged career-highs for disposals (27.5 per match), marks (five), goals (13 for the year), clearances (4.6), contested possessions (10.7), metres gained (431.5m) and score involvements (6.9).
That resulted in the youngster securing coaches votes in 16 of the 23 matches he played throughout the campaign, while he also recorded a perfect 10-vote game in a further seven matches to take out the award.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Richmond
Taranto was heavily criticised in the pre-season and many wondered if the move to Victoria would be a smart one.
He averaged 28.8 possessions and 6.17 clearances per game in his first season for the Tigers and showed some superb mid-season form too.
He booted four goals and had 33 disposals against Port Adelaide in Round 11, and he had a 38-possession game in Richmond's win over St Kilda in Round 14.
Due to his high disposal count, expect Taranto to poll well during the Tigers' stints of success.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
St Kilda
St Kilda's rise this year has been on the back of players like Sinclair taking the next step. Alongside star defender Cal Wilkie, Sinclair has perfectly executed Ross Lyon's style of play.
Sinclair finished with a career-high 38 disposals, 547 metres gained, 11 score involvements and ten marks.
Wouldn't expect Sinclair to finish near the top but will almost certainly lead the way for the Saints.
Defender
Disposals
Marks
Rebound50s
Who else?
Sydney
Gulden, who is just in his third year of AFL, earned his first blazer through consistent standout performances in 2023 with his elite running ability and kicking skills at the forefront of his game, giving himself every opportunity to be on the receiving end of umpire voting.
He played all 23 games this season, kicking 20 goals and averaging 27 disposals with 64.5% disposal efficiency. Adding to that he averaged 10 contested possessions, 4 clearances, 1.3 centre clearances, 5 tackles and 6.2 inside 50s for the season. He was also ranked number one across the league for metres gained.
Gulden was arguably the best wingman in the competition this season and the Brownlow count should reflect that.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
West Coast
Tim Kelly played his first standout season for the Eagles since arriving from Geelong.
The 29-year-old played 22 games, averaging 28 possessions, six clearances and nearly five tackles per game, with his ability to perform while the team was struggling setting him apart from others during 2023.
The midfielder won the club champion award, leading the club for disposals, inside 50s, clearances, tackles, contested possessions and score involvements, while also finishing equal fifth for goals.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
Western Bulldogs
Bontempelli finished Brownlow Medal runner-up with 33 votes in 2021, before dropping to a 10-vote tally last year.
In 2023, the 27-year-old has been back to his best form and could be the biggest chance to catch Daicos on Brownlow Medal night after the injury to the star Magpie in Round 21.
The 27-year-old led by example this season, averaging 27.7 disposals, 4.4 marks, 7.5 tackles and 7.6 clearances to go with 19 goals.
He finished the season third in Club history for most contested possessions (332), third for most inside 50s (131) and second for most tackles (172), while also recording the Bulldogs' fourth-most clearances (175) of all-time.
'M. Bontempelli, 3 votes' is a sound that you should prepare to repeatedly hear throughout the course of Monday night.
Midfielder
Disposals
Tackles
Clearances
Who else?
