Brisbane ball magnet Lachie Neale will head into the AFL grand closing as a two-time Brownlow Medal winner after claiming the league’s best particular person honour for a second time.
The 30-year-old, who gained the 2020 award and was runner-up final yr, polled 31 votes to win from the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli (29) and Collingwood’s Nick Daicos (28), storming dwelling with three-vote video games within the closing two rounds.
Neale is the primary two-time winner since former Fremantle teammate Nat Fyfe in 2015 and 2019, and simply the sixteenth participant to win a number of Brownlow Medals.
He’s additionally the primary participant to win the highest award with out being named within the All-Australian staff since former West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis in 2014.
The famous person Lion, who will play a key function in opposition to Collingwood in Saturday’s decider, averaged 27.4 disposals, 8.1 clearances and 13.9 contested possessions throughout the common season.
“Yeah it does not sit very effectively, in the intervening time,” a shocked Neale mentioned from the Lions’ Brownlow perform in Brisbane.
“I am certain it is going to sink in at a later date. I am fairly rattled to be sincere. So apologies if this (interview) does not go too effectively.
“I didn’t count on this, and to be amongst a few of these names which have gained two is unbelievable.”
Sydney’s Errol Gulden and Port Adelaide star Zak Butters rounded out the highest 5 with 27 votes apiece.
The ultimate rounds have been terribly dramatic.
Dashing 20-year-old Daicos, son of Collingwood nice Peter Daicos, was a red-hot favorite for a lot of the season however missed the ultimate three rounds after struggling a hairline fracture in his knee throughout spherical 21.
Remarkably, the younger gun led on 28 votes after spherical 18 and held that lead till spherical 23, regardless of not polling in that point.
Neale drew stage with Daicos in spherical 23, with Bontempelli, Errol Gulden and Christian Petracca locked on 26 heading into the ultimate spherical.
Bontempelli, who was additionally runner-up to Ollie Wines in 2021, claimed three votes in his closing sport, however was leapfrogged by Neale’s best-on-ground efficiency in opposition to St Kilda.
Observe the depend in our dwell weblog.
Key occasions
Leaderboard
- Lachie Neale – 31
- Marcus Bontempelli – 29
- Nick Daicos – 28
- Zak Butters – 27
- Errol Gulden – 27
- Christian Petracca – 26
That is it from the weblog
So there you have got it – Lachie Neale is a two-time Brownlow Medallist, and the league’s finest and fairest participant for the 2023 season.
Neale appeared as shocked as anybody to have ended up with the medal round his neck, however his performances this season have been each bit as influential as they have been again within the yr of his first win in 2020.
Lachie Neale is a relentless competitor, a tireless accumulator of the soccer and is as expert and artistic as they arrive. He could make extra occur with every disposal than most, however nonetheless racks them up in really elite portions.
He’s precisely the type of participant you need in your aspect within the huge moments. And fortuitously for the Lions, they have the largest second of all arising in just some days.
The weblog will return on Saturday for the large one as Neale’s Brisbane tackle Collingwood within the 2023 AFL grand closing, however for now it’s goodnight, and congratulations to Lachie Neale.
Each membership’s main poller
- Adelaide – Jordan Dawson, Rory Laird (20)
- Brisbane – Lachie Neale (31)
- Carlton – Patrick Cripps (22)
- Collingwood – Nick Daicos (28)
- Essendon – Zach Merrett (17)
- Fremantle – Caleb Serong (24)
- GWS – Toby Inexperienced (20)
- Geelong – Jeremy Cameron (13)
- Gold Coast – Noah Anderson (22)
- Hawthorn – Jai Newcombe (18)
- Melbourne – Christian Petracca (26)
- North Melbourne – Luke Davies-Uniacke (13)
- Port Adelaide – Zak Butters (27)
- Richmond – Tim Taranto (17)
- St Kilda – Jack Sinclair (21)
- Sydney – Errol Gulden (27)
- West Coast – Tim Kelly (11)
- Western Bulldogs – Marcus Bontempelli (29)
All eyes on Saturday arvo for Lachie Neale
The Brownlow is good, nevertheless it’s not the medal Neale actually needs to win this week.
He was a sub in Fremantle’s 2013 GF defeat, and a full decade later is again and able to make an impression.
“I feel that is the factor I’ve learnt probably the most. As you mentioned, it was my second season, and I in all probability thought these alternatives have been going to roll round yearly or two, and so they have not, clearly.
“So for me now, I simply recognise and respect the chance that is in entrance of me and the staff and I’ll savour each second of this week and each second that I am on the hallowed turf of the MCG on Saturday afternoon, as a result of who is aware of once we may get that chance once more?
“It may not ever occur. I am simply going to strive to take in this week, get pleasure from each second and see what occurs on Saturday.”
Lachie is loving life in Brisbane
And why would not he? A superb participant in a superb staff, and now he’s getting ready to guide his Lions right into a grand closing.
“We have settled in rather well. The membership has been wonderful for each Jules and I.
“Settling into Brisbane over the past 5 years has been a deal with it is due to the membership and the folks concerned. I can not thank them sufficient.
“Jules went again to Perth for a few weeks not way back and mentioned she felt that Brissie was dwelling, which was good to listen to as effectively.
“She’s settled in nice and we’re loving it right here and the way may you not, with the climate that we get in winter?”
Lachie Neale is talking dwell from the Gabba
He and the remainder of the Lions stayed in Brisbane to organize for the grand closing, making this a really totally different evening for Neale.
Hamish McLachlan is having a chat with now through the magic of know-how.
“It does not sit very effectively, in the intervening time. I am certain it is going to sink in at a later date.
“I am fairly rattled to be sincere. So apologies if this does not go too effectively. I didn’t count on this, and to be amongst a few of these names which have gained two is unbelievable.”
Lachie Neale has gained the 2023 Brownlow Medal
What a depend, what a end. And what a participant Lachie Neale is.
A two-time Brownlow Medallist.
Spherical 24
Right here we go. Who wins the 2023 Brownlow Medal?
Three extra for Butters sees his depend finish with 27. A stellar season.
One vote for Gulden. He is not going to win the Brownlow tonight.
Zero votes for Petracca. He is not going to win the Brownlow tonight.
Three votes for Marcus Bontempelli! He leads!
However we watch for Neale’s votes …
Neale wants one vote to tie, two to win alone.
LACHIE NEALE GETS THREE! LACHIE NEALE WINS THE BROWNLOW!
Lachie Neale wants a vote within the final spherical to win it
He had 30 touches and 10 clearances.
You have to like his possibilities.
Spherical 23
The penultimate spherical. Did we see a winner current himself this week?
Zak Butters picks up three to maneuver as much as 24 votes.
Nothing for Christian Petracca. One other groan via the viewers.
Three votes for Errol Gulden! He strikes to 26 and a tie for second! He is come from the clouds!
Marcus Bontempelli picks up two votes, he is additionally tied for second.
What about Neale?
Three votes! Lachie Neale is tied for the lead!
Spherical 22
Proper, we now have reached the climax. Three rounds to tally, we may have our winner very quickly.
Nothing for Marcus Bontempelli.
Nothing for Errol Gulden.
One vote for Lachie Neale. Fascinating.
Nothing for Christian Petracca.
Daicos nonetheless leads with two rounds to go.
Who can run Nick Daicos down?
The younger Magpies gun nonetheless leads by two votes with three rounds to go, however he doesn’t play in any of these three video games.
Realistically, it is right down to Lachie Neale, Marcus Bontempelli and Christian Petracca.
Who will get it carried out from right here? We’re about to seek out out.
Spherical 21
4 rounds to go.
Jordan Dawson picks up three to maneuver to twenty votes.
Nothing for Christian Petracca on this one. And a groan is set free via the gang. That might be telling.
Nothing for Lachie Neale both. Daicos’s lead will survive one other week.
Zak Butters picks up three to maneuver to twenty votes.
Errol Gulden! Look out! Three extra takes him to 23.
However right here comes Marcus Bontempelli! Three for the Bont and he’s now tied with Neale in third place.
It’s getting spicy now!
Spherical 20
Nothing for Nick Daicos, and along with his harm coming subsequent week that shall be his polling down for the evening. 28 will not be sufficient.
Christian Petracca picks up one vote.
Errol Gulden is as much as 20, that is a reputation I have never flagged but.
Nothing for Neale or Anderson. Now we have one thing resembling a stalemate proper now.
Spherical 19
Six rounds left to tally. If I used to be to guess, I might say Lachie Neale from right here nevertheless it’s means too tight to name.
Nothing for Neale on this one.
Three for Tim Taranto to take him to 19 votes total.
Nothing for Daicos.
Two for Marcus Bontempelli retains him .
Nothing for Petracca both.
Max Gawn got here ready
Spherical 18
Marcus Bontmpelli picks up two.
Noah Anderson! Three votes! Holy moly, he’s actually threatening now.
Three votes Christian Petracca! He ties Daicos for the lead. Zero votes for Neale in that sport too.
Three extra for Nick Daicos! He is three votes clear in entrance.
Spherical 17
Patrick Cripps has 19 votes. Very underneath the radar to date.
Nothing for Noah Anderson.
One vote for Christian Petracca.
One vote for Lachie Neale.
Three votes for Nick Daicos! Who returns to the lead after 17 rounds.
Noah Anderson is having himself an evening
A shock for many, however possibly not for many who watched plenty of Suns footy this yr. Who’s to say how far he can take this.
Is it Neale vs Petracca?
It is certain wanting that means in the intervening time. Lachie Neale leads from Nick Daicos, with Christian Petracca a vote additional again. Nevertheless it’s these two that appear to have the perfect probability proper now.
ABC/AAP
