AFL superstar and Geelong captain Patrick Dangerfield is four Brownlow Medal votes away from eclipsing current record holder and former teammate Gary Ablett Jr.
Dangerfield is on 259 votes across his glittering career, which began in Adelaide before making the switch to the Cats ahead of the 2016 season.
It was that year the 'Danger' claimed the Brownlow Medal, and was on track to go back-to-back, albeit under suspension before Dustin Martin toppled the count.
Ablett Jnr (262 votes) won two Brownlows during his time - one at Geelong; one at Gold Coast - but arguably should've had more.
In 2007 he was surprisingly pipped by teammate Jimmy Bartel, and then again by Western Bulldogs Adam Cooney the following year.
In 2014, Ablett Jnr was all but set to win his third (2009 and 2013) before a serious shoulder injury ended his season early.
And despite his reign as one of the best players to grace an AFL field, Dangerfield is set to take over as the most voted player ever.
Most Brownlow votes all-time
262 - Gary Ablett Jr
259 - Patrick Dangerfield*
246 - Gary Dempsey
227 - Sam Mitchell
225 - Lachie Neale*
225 - Scott Pendlebury*
215 - Robert Harvey
214 - Joel Selwood
213 - Marcus Bontempelli*
213 - Dustin Martin
However, as they say, when one door opens, another one (generally) closes.
Dangerfield currently holds the record for most three-vote games (56), recently pipping Ablett Jnr (55).
Current superstars of the competition Lachie Neale (54) and Marcus Bontempelli (52) have had the seasons and games in 2026 to rival Dangerfield's current standing.
Most three-vote games
56 - Patrick Dangerfield*
55 - Gary Ablett jnr
54 - Lachie Neale*
52 - Marcus Bontempelli*
46 - Chris Judd
45 - Gary Dempsey
45 - Sam Mitchell
45 - Robert Harvey
42 - Dustin Martin
42 - Nat Fyfe
Collingwood turned Gold Coast veteran Scott Pendlebury holds the record for two-vote games (44 matches), while Ablett Jnr has the most second-vote nods (37).
