The Brownlow Medal - the AFL's highest individual honour - always delivers drama, surprises, and a spotlight on the game's elite talents.
In 2025, Gold Coast's Matt Rowell delivered a stunning performance to claim the medal with 39 votes, upsetting perennial favourite Nick Daicos, showcasing just how unpredictable the count can be.
With Rowell's breakthrough now in the history books, attention turns to 2026. A host of midfield stars are primed for big seasons, bolstered by team improvements, leadership roles, injury returns, and fresh opportunities to dominate in front of the umpires' eyes.
So, here are the seven players who could win the Brownlow Medal in 2026, assuming they stay healthy.
Honourable mentions: Zak Butters, Matthew Rowell, Caleb Serong, Andrew Brayshaw, Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera, Ed Richards
2Marcus Bontempelli
If Marcus Bontempelli played a full 23-game season in 2025, there's a good chance he would have won the Brownlow Medal, as the 30-year-old's impact was simply something to marvel at on a weekly basis.
The 'Bont' recorded seven performances of at least 30 disposals, eight performances recording 10 score involvements or more and became the first player since Gryan Miers in 2023 to average at least 1.5 goal assists per game.
Yet, despite all those sensational figures, Bontempelli's year flew under the radar somewhat, given the Bulldogs fell short of a finals appearance and the superstar was unable to truly compete in the Brownlow count due to his missed time.
It highlights the level of dominance that has simply come to be expected from the Bulldogs star, and it's something that should not go underappreciated. Expect another dominant year from the 30-year-old in 2026 as he looks to win his first Brownlow Medal - and potentially launch himself into the top five for votes polled all-time while doing so.
