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Brownlow Medal latest news: The 2026 Brownlow Medal count is taking place in Melbourne on Monday, September 21, 2026, as the AFL season reaches Grand Final week. The prestigious best-and-fairest award will be presented at Crown Palladium, with the official vote count beginning at 8pm AEST. Coverage has focused on the leading contenders, changes to the voting process and the eligibility of several Sydney Swans players.
Brownlow Medal Latest News Today – Top Headlines
- The 2026 Brownlow Medal count is being held on September 21.
- The ceremony is taking place at Crown Palladium in Melbourne.
- Red-carpet arrivals began from around 5:15pm AEST.
- The official vote count begins at 8pm AEST.
- The medal winner is expected to be announced shortly after 10pm.
- Nick Daicos, Bailey Smith, Marcus Bontempelli and Patrick Cripps are among the players attracting major attention.
- Sydney Swans players suspended by their club remain eligible to receive Brownlow votes.
- Umpires have access to selected player statistics when casting votes this season.
- ABC Sport and AFL platforms are providing live coverage and vote tracking.
Brownlow Medal 2026 Count Begins Tonight
The biggest Brownlow Medal Australia latest news is the start of the annual count. The Brownlow Medal is awarded to the fairest and best player in the AFL home-and-away season, with umpires responsible for determining the votes.
For every home-and-away match, the three best players receive votes. The best player receives three votes, the second-best receives two and the third-best receives one. Finals matches are not included in the Brownlow voting process.
The votes are traditionally kept secret until they are revealed round by round during the Brownlow Medal ceremony.
Nick Daicos Among Main Names in Brownlow Coverage
Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos is receiving substantial attention ahead of the 2026 count. ABC’s live coverage identifies him as the leading favourite entering the evening, while other players frequently mentioned include Geelong’s Bailey Smith, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli and Carlton’s Patrick Cripps.
Daicos finished second in the 2025 Brownlow Medal count, seven votes behind Gold Coast’s Matt Rowell. His 2026 season has again placed him prominently in discussions surrounding the award.
Importantly, pre-count expectations do not determine the official result. The Brownlow winner will be decided by the votes recorded by the umpires throughout the season.
Brownlow Voting Rules Changed in 2026
A major talking point in Brownlow Medal news today is the change to the voting process.
For the first time, umpires were given access to selected match statistics when deciding their three votes after games. The available information includes disposals, kicks, handballs, marks, contested possessions, tackles, goals, clearances, score involvements and other statistical categories.
The AFL introduced the change following debate about whether statistical information could assist umpires when determining the best players in individual matches.
The traditional three-two-one voting structure remains in place.
Suspended Sydney Players Can Still Receive Votes
Another unusual aspect of the Brownlow Medal 2026 is the eligibility of several Sydney Swans players.
Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice and James Jordon were suspended by the club following a breach of club standards and consequently cannot participate in the finals. However, their suspensions were club-level sanctions rather than AFL suspensions.
As a result, they remain eligible to receive Brownlow votes, and votes they earned during the home-and-away season will count.
Heeney in particular has attracted attention because of his position among the leading players discussed ahead of the count.
Brownlow Medal Red Carpet in Melbourne
The Brownlow Medal has become one of the biggest social and fashion events on the Australian sporting calendar. Players, partners, coaches and football personalities gathered at Crown Palladium before the official count.
Australian media have been providing extensive coverage of the red carpet, including arrivals and fashion choices. ABC and other outlets are publishing photographs and live updates throughout the evening.
The ceremony marks the traditional beginning of Grand Final week in the AFL calendar.
How to Watch Brownlow Medal 2026
Australian viewers can follow the Brownlow Medal through Channel 7 and 7plus, while ABC Sport is providing live online coverage and vote-by-vote updates. The official AFL website is also publishing Brownlow information and live coverage.
The broadcast includes the red carpet, award presentations and the complete vote count.
Brownlow Medal and Grand Final Week
The Brownlow Medal traditionally takes place during the week leading into the AFL Grand Final. The 2026 AFL Grand Final is scheduled for September 26, meaning the Brownlow count officially launches one of the biggest weeks of the Australian football season.
Alongside the medal count, attention is already turning toward the Grand Final, team preparation and individual player performances.
