Brisbane Lions gun Lachie Neale had jumped to twenty-eight votes, having polled one vote within the last spherical in opposition to Melbourne, earlier than the votes had been learn for the ultimate sport of the home-and-away season between the Magpies and Blues. Gold Coast co-captain Touk Miller completed third on 27 votes in a yr when his staff had an equal-best 10 wins.
Melbourne star Clayton Oliver was an early favorite for the highest award.Credit score:Getty Photos
The Brownlow rely was moved from its conventional Monday evening slot because of the current loss of life of Queen Elizabeth II.
The Blues started the marketing campaign with an 8-2 win-loss document, with Cripps having fun with 5 greatest on grounds within the opening 9 rounds. Contemporary in physique and thoughts, he had 30 disposals and three targets in opposition to Richmond within the season opener, and adopted up with 35 touches, together with two targets, in opposition to the Western Bulldogs per week later.
He overcame a troublesome patch in the midst of the season. The Blues gained solely 4 of their last 12 matches, shedding their final 4, nevertheless it didn’t matter. Cripps turned the sixth Blue to win the game’s highest particular person honour, and the primary since Chris Judd in 2010.
Neale fell simply wanting turning into the primary twin Brownlow medallist within the Lions’ historical past, whereas Miller had an evening he gained’t overlook. Neale and Miller had been joint leaders after spherical 22 when Miller polled two votes, guaranteeing a pulsating last spherical. Miller didn’t ballot a vote in spherical 23.
Patrick Cripps, pictured with companion Monique Fontana, had 5 greatest on grounds within the opening 9 rounds of the rely.Credit score:Getty Photos
After 15 rounds, Neale led with 21 votes, one forward of Fremantle’s Andrew Brayshaw and Cripps, whereas Melbourne ball magnet Clayton Oliver was simply behind that pair.
Miller, who mentioned his profession sprung to life after a 36-disposal effort in opposition to Sydney in spherical six in 2021, was additionally difficult. Geelong ahead Jeremy Cameron surprisingly leapt into fifth spot, however Neale prolonged his result in 4 votes after being greatest on floor in opposition to the Western Bulldogs in spherical 16.
Brayshaw, with 36 disposals in opposition to St Kilda, delivered three votes in spherical 17 to chop Neale’s result in one, whereas Cripps and Miller additionally tightened the race.
The squeeze was on in spherical 19, when Miller was greatest on floor in opposition to Brisbane, closing to inside two of the lead, whereas Cripps polled two votes in opposition to Larger Western Sydney, and Brayshaw polled one vote in opposition to Richmond, leaving him in a tie with Neale on 24 votes.
“It’s a loopy leaderboard up there,” Neale mentioned.
In a dramatic spherical 20, Cripps regained the lead with three votes (26 total) for his 41 disposals in a loss to Adelaide, whereas Miller was additionally greatest on floor in opposition to West Coast with 31 touches. Brayshaw’s one vote in opposition to Melbourne left him locked on 25 with Miller.
Neale regained the lead with the utmost votes in spherical 21 in opposition to Carlton, coming as Cripps didn’t ballot. Oliver, greatest on floor in opposition to Collingwood, leapt into fifth spot.
Miller, with two votes in opposition to Geelong in spherical 22, then joined Neale on prime of the leaderboard, with a spherical remaining.
After AFL chief govt Gillon McLachlan opened proceedings, Cripps and Brayshaw started in a rush, every having fun with seven votes after the opening three rounds, together with two greatest on grounds. Melbourne’s Christian Petracca and Port Adelaide veteran Travis Boak had six votes, whereas Neale and Oliver had 5, the latter polling in three video games. After 5 rounds, Neale and Petracca, the latter with three luggage of most votes, had been joined on the prime of the leaderboard on 9 votes by Adelaide’s Ben Keays.
Cripps joined Petracca within the lead with most votes in spherical six in opposition to Fremantle, whereas Oliver was additionally dominant, in opposition to Richmond. When Cripps had his fourth greatest on floor, coming in spherical seven with 35 disposals (18 clearances) in opposition to North Melbourne, he had the outright lead, with 13 votes. Oliver, with two votes, and Neale, together with his third greatest on floor, continued to press, whereas Miller had most votes after 36 disposals in a loss to Collingwood.
The 2022 Brownlow prime three, after a decent rely.Credit score:The Age
Cripps had most votes for a fifth time after 35 disposals in opposition to the Crows in spherical eight, however Oliver and Neale additionally had been busy. Neale joined Cripps within the lead after his greatest on floor together with his 36 touches in opposition to the Crows, whereas Petracca, together with his fourth bag of three votes, and Miller additionally made a transfer. After 9 rounds, Neale and Cripps led with 16 votes apiece, Oliver and Petracca three votes behind. Brayshaw, who mentioned he didn’t have any pre-prepared notes if he gained, was on 12.
Neale made his transfer in spherical 11, polling three votes for his 36 disposals in opposition to the Crows, edging forward of Cripps by two votes and Oliver by three.
Oliver, regardless of 43 disposals and a purpose within the Queen’s Birthday conflict in opposition to Collingwood, polled solely two votes in spherical 13, coming as Brayshaw accomplished back-to-back greatest on grounds to leap into second place, behind Neale, who polled two votes in opposition to St Kilda.
In the meantime, Port Adelaide ahead Mitch Georgiades claimed mark of the yr for his screamer in opposition to Fremantle in spherical 16, whereas Essendon’s Sam Draper had purpose of the yr for his working effort in opposition to Gold Coast in spherical 18.
Joel Selwood gained the Jim Stynes Neighborhood Management Award for his work within the Geelong space.
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