Predicting the winner, podium and top 5, 10 and 20 players for the 2022 Brownlow Medal

The 2022 Brownlow Medal this year is expected to be one of the tightest counts in recent years, with plenty of star players with the opportunity to take 'Charlie' home.

With Brownlow night almost upon us, we take a look at our Zero Hanger MVP top 20 list and see how these players will shape up on Brownlow night.

SEE ALSO:

• Predicting every likely three-vote performance
• Which club will poll the most votes?
• Every club’s likely leading vote-getter
• Likely leader after five rounds
• Likely leader after 10 rounds
• Most votes in the last eight rounds (16-23)
• Players to poll in most games
• Stats Insider: The algorithm that's tipping a close Brownlow
• How to watch the Brownlow

Top 20 Brownlow chances

Will Brodie

One of the revelations of the season, Will Brodie is a big chance to hit the top 20 on Sunday night.

Brodie switched the Suns for the Dockers at the end of last year and has been one of their most consistent players of the year after struggling to make Gold Coast's best 22.

He may not poll as well as his midfield counterpart in Andrew Brayshaw, but it looks to be a very good night for Brodie.

Charlie Curnow

Carlton's big key-forward finally got through a season unscathed and boy did he do it in style.

The Coleman medallist kicked plenty of bags of goals this year as well as getting his team over the line on multiple occassions, which will result in plenty of Brownlow votes.

Curnow is a slight chance to poll the most votes for a forward on Sunday night.

Max Gawn

The All-Australian ruckman and Melbourne captain once again enjoyed a brilliant season even after sharing his ruck load with the soon-to-be departing Luke Jackson.

Gawn had plenty of high disposal games that included goals and hit-outs to advantage, and is a key player in that Melbourne midfield.

Gawn will more than likely poll the most votes out of any ruckman on the night and will also likely find himself in the top 20.

Luke Davies-Uniacke

One of the only shining lights on North Melbourne's horror season, Luke Davies-Uniacke will comfortably poll the most votes for the club on Sunday night and could find himself inside the top 20.

LDU proved multiple times this season that he will fight no matter the situation, having the most contested possessions at the club this year as well as multiple 30+ disposal performances whilst his side was getting beaten well.

Although he somehow didn't win North's Syd Barker Medal, he should comfortably top his club's Brownlow votes.

Cameron Guthrie

After a slow start to the season with injury trouble, Cameron Guthrie picked up his game quickly and once again was a vital part of the Geelong midfield this season.

Arguably their best midfielder over the last two seasons, Guthrie had multiple 25+ disposal performances with the occasional goal or two to help his team over the line.

It is likely he will find himself in the top 20 on Sunday night.

Chad Warner

Another young player who has been a revelation this season, Chad Warner has been brilliant for Sydney in his third season of AFL.

Warner was nominated for the All-Australian squad of 40 and has taken his game to a new level, with contested footy and his offensive work being a highlight of his breakout season.

Warner may not poll as many votes as his teammate Callum Mills, but the top 20 is definitely a possibility for Warner this weekend.

Sam Walsh

After missing the opening few rounds of the season due to syndesmosis, Walsh came straight back into the team and dominated in the middle, as expected.

Walsh had multiple 40 disposal games this year and was brilliant for Carlton in their finals push, and although they just came up short, no one can fault Walsh for his efforts throughout the season.

Dion Prestia

The midfielder enjoyed a stellar season at Richmond this year, and would probably be higher up this list if it wasn't for multiple soft tissue injuries forcing him to miss six of Richmond's matches this year.

However when he was fit, he was the dominant midfielder in his team. Always consistent in his clearance work, disposal use and ball accumulation. Prestia will possibly be the highest polling Tiger on Sunday night.

Hugh McCluggage

Most people are overlooking Hugh McCluggage this year due to Lachie Neale's stellar season, but the versatile midfielder has had a brilliant year and will definitely find himself in this year's top 20.

McCluggage fixed up a huge issue of his game this year that was hurting him in 2021 - his goalkicking. He spent a lot of time in the middle this year but also kicked a massive 20 goals, which is huge from a midfielder.

McCluggage is poised to poll very well in this year's Brownlow Medal.

Connor Rozee

Another player with a breakout year - Conor Rozee has had a brilliant year and brought the famous Kane Cornes Walsh/Rozee debate back to life.

Rozee was moved into the midfield early in the season and never looked back, being arguably the most important player in that midfield, overtaking the likes of Travis Boak and last year's Brownlow winner Ollie Wines.

Although we have him on the outer of the top 10, there is serious potential for Conor Rozee to be a dark horse this Sunday night.

Top 10 fancies 

Jeremy Cameron

Arguably a real Brownlow Medal dark horse, Jeremy Cameron enjoyed a career-best season at the Cats this year and proved to be the most versatile forward in the game, even spending some time in the midfield this year.

Cameron finished second in the Coleman, kicked bags of goals week after week and even had a 30-disposal game this year, an extremely rare occurrence for a key forward.

If some things go his way, Cameron could even be a real chance at landing in the top 5 in this year's Brownlow count.

Shai Bolton

The electric mid-forward has shown on many occasions this year that not only is he a game changer, but he is consistent and one of the most exciting players in the game to watch.

Arguably Richmond's best player this season, Bolton had several 20+ disposal and 2+ goal games, and even had one 30-disposal and 3-goal game against Gold Coast this year.

His impact was incredible at Punt Road this year, and it should be rewarded by polling quite well on Sunday night.

Rory Laird

Comfortably the best player at the Crows this year, Rory Laird will once again poll quite well in this year's Brownlow.

The midfielder averaged more disposals than any other player this year, and dominated in almost every game he played. Laird even broke the all-time tackle record, tallying 20 tackles in a match against Collingwood. The only thing keeping him from being higher up the count may be his side's wins tally.

Christian Petracca

The 2021 Norm Smith medallist once again enjoyed a brilliant season at the reigning premiers, playing a major role in the push for back-to-back premierships.

Although the club fell short, Petracca, as expected, put his best foot forward, enjoying a terrific season alongside the likes of Clayton Oliver and Max Gawn in the star-studded Melbourne midfield.

Although he may not win 'Charlie' this year, expect Petracca to once again poll well in the count.

Callum Mills

The Sydney midfielder enjoyed a career-best year in the red and white, and has led Sydney's midfield to a deep finals finish.

The 2022 All-Australian will likely fall just short of a Brownlow Medal, but should comfortably poll highest for the Swans on Sunday night.

The final five

Lachie Neale

The 2020 Brownlow Medallist has given himself the best possible chance of being a dual winner, after a once again remarkable season for the Brisbane Lions.

Expect Lachie Neale to poll three votes in multiple matches, as he had plenty of best-on-ground-worthy performances on his way to driving the Brisbane side to a preliminary final.

He's the bookie's favourite to win the Brownlow, and rightfully so.

Andrew Brayshaw

Andy Brayshaw has put together a career-best season for the Dockers and is a huge reason for the club being where they are today.

Brayshaw was ranked elite this year for disposals, effective disposals, tackles and pressure acts, as well as ranking fourth in total disposals in the AFL this year.

Brayshaw will be hoping to collect his first Brownlow Medal on Sunday night, capping off a terrific year.

Clayton Oliver

Clarry has had once again a terrific season with Melbourne and is listed as the second favourite to win this year's Brownlow by the bookies.

The contested bull collected more disposals than any other player this year and even had one match against Collingwood where he collected 45 disposals.

He is ranked elite in disposals, clearances, contested possessions and score involvements, but the only thing that may hurt his chances at taking home a Brownlow Medal is his teammates Christian Petracca potentially taking votes off of him.

Touk Miller

The equal winner of the Zero Hanger MVP Award, Touk Miller was quite comfortably Gold Coast's best player this year and put himself in a fantastic position to take home his first Brownlow Medal.

The inside midfielder took his game to new heights once again, ranking 'elite' in 14 different categories, which included contested possessions, tackles and clearances.

Miller will be hoping to cap off Gold Coast's most successful season with a Brownlow Medal.

Patrick Cripps

The other equal winner of the Zero Hanger MVP Award, it might just be Patrick Cripps' night come Sunday.

Cripps has been tipped to win a Brownlow ever since he entered the game, and his incredible start to the season may just be enough to get him over the line.

The midfielder ranked elite for clearances, contested possessions and effective disposals, whilst also kicking 21 goals himself this season.

This year may just be 'Crippa's year.