The 2026 Brownlow Medal will be awarded on September 21!
The AFL Brownlow Medal is awarded to the player deemed the “fairest and best” across the annual AFL Premiership season.
2026 Brownlow Medal Betting
AFL odds correct as of 17/07/2026 and subject to change.
Formerly known as the Charles Brownlow Trophy, the coveted Australian Football League award is unofficially called the “Charlie” and is determined by votes cast by official field umpires at the end of all games across the 25-week home-and-away season (starting in 2024 for the first time with ‘Opening Round’) of AFL Fixtures.
Key Event Details
- Date: 21 September 2026
- Venue: Crown Palladium, Melbourne
- Broadcast: Channel 7 from 7pm AEST, including the red carpet coverage.
Named in honour of former champion Geelong Football Club player, club secretary and Victorian Football League (VFL) president Charles Brownlow (1861 – 1924) the Brownlow Medallist is announced during an elaborate award ceremony in Melbourne five days out from the season’s AFL Grand Final.
The Brownlow Medal will be awarded to the fairest and best player in the AFL next season and betting on who will take out the coveted prize is already open! Each year the Brownlow Medal is handed out at a prestigious AFL awards ceremony at the end of the season. Across the AFL home-and-away season votes come in by officiating field umpires at the end of each match and the individual player who collects the most votes becomes the year’s Brownlow Medallist.
Brownlow Medal betting markets on which individual player will take out ‘Charlie’ isn’t necessarily a player from a team highest up the AFL ladder in line to collect the trophy.
2026 Brownlow Medal Count
The 2026 Brownlow Medal is shaping up as one of the most intriguing counts in years, largely because the AFL has introduced a major change to the voting system: field umpires will now have access to official player performance statistics after each game before casting their 3‑2‑1 votes. This shift is designed to reduce controversy around surprise vote allocations and ensure standout performances are recognised more consistently. The AFL confirmed that umpires will receive approved data across 16 key categories — including disposals, marks, contested marks and tackles — delivered securely via Champion Data on AFL‑issued devices. This change follows debate from 2025, when Gold Coast star Matt Rowell won the medal despite some raised eyebrows over specific vote allocations, prompting calls for a more informed process.
How the new system shapes the 2026 count
- More consistent voting is expected, with umpires now able to cross‑check standout statistical performances rather than relying solely on on‑field impressions.
- Midfielders remain favoured, but players with high-impact, high-stat lines — especially contested beasts and elite ball‑winners — may benefit even more.
- The award’s aura is under debate, with Melbourne captain Max Gawn publicly arguing the change “has lost the whole aura of the Brownlow,” reflecting a split between tradition and modernisation.
Early Brownlow contenders to watch
While the field is wide open after Rowell’s breakout win in 2025, there are a number of leading contenders to take out the Charlie in 2026.
Nick Daicos (Collingwood) — The clear early favourite, backed by record‑setting vote trends and a midfield role that maximises his accumulation and impact. His strong opening price and consistent polling history make him the benchmark heading into 2026.
Matt Rowell (Gold Coast) — The 2025 Brownlow winner returns as a major contender, with his contested dominance and durability keeping him firmly in the mix despite longer odds than Daicos.
Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) — A perennial vote magnet whose blend of size, skill and leadership keeps him in the conversation every year.
Bailey Smith (Geelong) — Viewed as strong value due to his explosive style and potential for a high‑usage midfield role in 2026.
Will Ashcroft (Brisbane) — Tipped as a breakout candidate, with his return from injury and Brisbane’s top‑end form giving him a platform to surge into contention.
AFL Brownlow Medal Odds & Market Update
Odds on the AFL season’s Brownlow Medal winner make up some of the most popular Australian Rules betting markets. Even before the current season kicks-off Brownlow Medal betting listing the price on all major players to win is open including the 2026 Brownlow Medal Winner.
Brownlow Medal 2026 FAQs
Who won the 2025 Brownlow Medal?
Matt Rowell (Gold Coast Suns) won the 2025 Brownlow Medal in a major upset, polling 39 votes—the second-most in Brownlow history. He became only the second Suns player to win the award, after Gary Ablett Jnr. Rowell’s win was confirmed by Round 22, with three games to spare.
When is the 2026 Brownlow Medal Count?
The 2026 Brownlow Medal Count is held on Monday, September 21, 2026.
Where is the 2026 Brownlow Medal Count?
Crown Melbourne, 8 Whiteman Street, Southbank Victoria, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia.
What time is the 2026 Brownlow Medal Count?
The evening gets underway with the classic Red Carpet arrivals before the official 2026 Brownlow Medal count begins at 8pm AEST.
How to watch the 2026 Brownlow Medal Count
The 2026 Brownlow Medal was broadcast live and free in Australia on Channel 7 and 7mate and live streamed on 7Plus from 7.30pm AEST.
The coverage will also live streamed on AFL.com.au and the AFL Live Official App from 7.30pm AEST.
AFL Brownlow Medal Records
Player Records
- Most Brownlow Medals: 3 – Haydn Bunton Sr. (Fitzroy), Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bob Skilton (South Melbourne), Ian Stewart (St Kilda/Richmond)
- Most Brownlow Medal Career Votes: 248 – Ablett Junior (Geelong / Gold Coast)
- Most Brownlow Medal Season Votes: 59 – Graham Teasdale (1977)
- Youngest Brownlow Medal Winner: 19 years – Dick Reynolds (Essendon)
- Oldest Brownlow Medal Winner: 31 years – Barry Round (South Melbourne)
Team Records
- Most Brownlow Medals: 14 – South Melbourne / Sydney (1940, 1949, 1955, 1959, 1963, 1968, 1970, 1977, 1981, 1986, 1988, 1995, 2003, 2006)
AFL Brownlow Medal Winners
| Year / Season | Winner | Team | Count |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2000 | Shane Woewodin | Melbourne | 24 |
| 2001 | Jason Akermanis | Brisbane Lions | 23 |
| 2002 | Simon Black | Brisbane Lions | 25 |
| 2003 | Mark Ricciuto | Adelaide | 22 |
| 2003 | Nathan Buckley | Collingwood | 22 |
| 2003 | Adam Goodes | Sydney | 22 |
| 2004 | Chris Judd | West Coast | 30 |
| 2005 | Ben Cousins | West Coast | 20 |
| 2006 | Adam Goodes | Sydney | 26 |
| 2007 | Jimmy Bartel | Geelong | 29 |
| 2008 | Adam Cooney | Western Bulldogs | 24 |
| 2009 | Gary Ablett Jr | Geelong | 30 |
| 2010 | Chris Judd | Carlton | 30 |
| 2011 | Dane Swan | Collingwood | 34 |
| 2012 | Trent Cotchin & Sam Mitchell | Richmond & Hawthorn | 26 |
| 2013 | Gary Ablett Jr | Gold Coast | 28 |
| 2014 | Matt Priddis | West Coast | 26 |
| 2015 | Nathan Fyfe | Fremantle | 31 |
| 2016 | Patrick Dangerfield | Geelong | 35 |
| 2017 | Dustin Martin | Richmond | 36 |
| 2018 | Tom Mitchell | Hawthorn | 28 |
| 2019 | Nat Fyfe | Fremantle | 33 |
| 2020 | Lachie Neale | Brisbane | 31 |
| 2021 | Ollie Wines | Port Adelaide | 36 |
| 2022 | Patrick Cripps | Carlton | 29 |
| 2023 | Lachie Neal | Brisbane Lions | 31 |
| 2024 | Patrick Cripps | Carlton | 45 |
| 2025 | Matt Rowell | Gold Coast | 39 |
What are the criteria for winning the Brownlow?
To win the Brownlow Medal, a player must meet the following criteria:
- Best and Fairest: The award is given to the player deemed the “fairest and best” during the home-and-away season. This means the player must perform exceptionally well on the field while also demonstrating good sportsmanship.
- Voting by Umpires: After each match, the field umpires confer and award votes to the three players they believe were the best on the ground. The votes are given as 3 votes for the best player, 2 votes for the second-best, and 1 vote for the third-best.
- Eligibility: A player becomes ineligible to win the Brownlow if they are suspended by the AFL Tribunal during the season. However, players remain eligible if they receive only a financial penalty or if their suspension is served for an offence committed in the previous season.
The player with the highest number of votes at the end of the season is awarded the Brownlow Medal. If there is a tie, multiple players can be awarded the medal.
How does voting work for the Brownlow Medal?
The Brownlow Medal voting process is straightforward and involves the field umpires. Here’s how it works:
- After each home-and-away match, the four officiating field umpires confer and award votes to the players they believe were the best on the ground.
- Three votes are given to the player deemed the best, two votes to the second-best player, and one vote to the third-best player.
- These votes are kept confidential until the Brownlow Medal count, which is traditionally held on the Monday night before the AFL Grand Final.
- The player with the highest number of votes at the end of the count is awarded the Brownlow Medal. If two or more players are tied, they are declared joint winners.
This system ensures that the award goes to the “fairest and best” player of the season, as determined by those who officiate the games.
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