Collingwood’s Nick Daicos has achieved a remarkable milestone by winning his inaugural Brownlow Medal, finishing with an unprecedented total of 47 votes.
The 23-year-old started strong, earning a perfect nine votes in his first three matches, and maintained his lead from round 11 onward. He delivered six consecutive best-on-ground performances, securing his victory by round 21.
Daicos’ Historic Achievement
Daicos triumphed over Western Bulldogs star Marcus Bontempelli, a three-time runner-up, who finished with 34 votes, and Geelong’s Bailey Smith, who garnered 33 votes.
He recorded an impressive 13 performances that earned him three votes, breaking the previous record of 45 votes set by Carlton’s Patrick Cripps in 2024.
Background and Awards
The son of Magpies legend Peter Daicos, Nick finally clinched the award after finishing as runner-up in the previous two seasons, along with a third-place finish in 2023 and an eighth-place finish in his debut year of 2022.
This season, Daicos also received the AFL Players Association and AFL Coaches Association player-of-the-year awards.
Statistical Highlights
As the favorite for the fourth consecutive year and with the umpires now able to consult statistics for the first time, Daicos proved to be an unstoppable force. He averaged 34.9 disposals, 5.7 clearances, 6.7 inside-50s, and 1.1 goals per game.
Last year, he was narrowly defeated by Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell, and in 2022, he placed second to Cripps, polling 38 votes.
Future Prospects and Controversies
As vice-captain of Collingwood, Daicos is widely expected to be appointed the club’s captain next season. He is the first Magpie to win the Brownlow Medal since Dane Swan in 2011.
Notably absent from the ceremony were Sydney players Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner, who received 26 and 12 votes, respectively. The duo was among five players suspended by Sydney for violating club standards and were not invited to the Brownlow event at Crown Palladium, although they remained eligible for the award.
In a separate matter, a police investigation is ongoing regarding sexual assault allegations linked to an incident at East Melbourne’s Pullman Hotel in August.
Brisbane’s Conor McKenna was awarded the goal of the year, while Hawthorn’s Nick Watson received the mark of the year.
