Nick Daicos has broken multiple records to win the 2026 Brownlow Medal.Daicos, 23, was announced as winner of the prestigious award at the conclusion of Monday night’s ceremony at Crown Melbourne. The Collingwood star was the bookies’ favourite to win this year’s Brownlow Medal after just falling short of the award in the last three seasons.He was already named player of the season by the AFL Players Association and AFL Coaches Association.Daicos received 47 votes for his first Brownlow, the most ever collected by a player. The former record for number of votes belonged to Carlton’s Patrick Cripps who collected 45 in 2024. Nick Daicos (above) has won the 2026 Brownlow Medal Daicos (centre) was bettors’ favourite to win Daicos (pictured with partner Arlette Amor) received 47 votes for the medal BROWNLOW MEDAL LEADERBOARD 1. Nick Daicos (Collingwood) – 47 votes2. Bailey Smith (Geelong) – 36 votes3. Marcus Bontempelli (Western Bulldogs) – 34 votes4. Max Gawn (Melbourne) – 28 votes5. Will Ashcroft (Brisbane), Patrick Cripps (Carlton), Harry Sheezel (North Melbourne) – 27 votes <!- – ad: https://mads.dailymail.co.uk/v8/us/sport/AFL/article/other/mpu_factbox.html?id=mpu_factbox_1 – ->
Daicos was also the first player to have six consecutive three-point games and polled in 18 of his 22 matches.’I never thought I’d be up on this stage. It’s something that I genuinely have to pinch myself over,’ Daicos said while accepting the medal. When asked about his previous forecasted Brownlow wins, Daicos joked: ‘I’ve just learned not to trust the the betting markets, to be honest.’But as I said, it’s a massive award and I’m so privileged to be up here.’I can’t believe I’m a Brownlow medallist.’ Daicos averaged 34.9 disposals, 5.7 clearances, 6.7 inside-50s and 1.1 goals. He won the AFL’s greatest individual honour from Geelong star Bailey Smith, who received 36 votes, and Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli, who scored 34 votes.Daicos, the Collingwood vice-captain who’s widely expected to be named skipper next season, is the club’s first Brownlow medallist since Dane Swan in 2011. Daicos (above) told the crowd: ‘I can’t believe I’m a Brownlow medallist’ Daicos (pictured with Amor) played six consecutive three-point games and polled in 18 of his 22 matches Daicos (above) said it was a ‘privilege’ to win the ‘massive’ awardBehind Bontempelli and Smith were Melbourne skipper Max Gawn at 28 votes, Brisbane star Will Ashcroft with 27, Carlton’s two-time winner Patrick Cripps with 27 and North Melbourne’s Harry Sheezel also at 27. Port Adelaide superstar Zak Butters, set to join Bontempelli at the Bulldogs next season, was among the contenders before his late-season ankle injury and finished on 26.Brisbane’s Conor McKenna won goal of the year while Hawthorn dynamo Nick Watson was awarded mark of the year. Among the other records Daicos broke to take the main award were most consecutive best-on-ground games, most best-on-ground performances in a season, and equal biggest winning margin. The Brownlow Medal is awarded to the best and fairest player according to umpires.Umpires award votes to the three best players of every game, excluding finals.The best player is given three votes, followed by two votes for the second-best and one vote for the third-best.The number of votes is kept secret until the Brownlow ceremony. Join the discussionDoes Nick Daicos’s record-breaking win prove the Brownlow voting system finally got it right?What’s your view? NICK DAICOS – THE 2026 AFL BROWNLOW MEDALLIST – Date of birth : 03/03/2003 (23 years)- Recruited by: Collingwood at pick No.4 in the 2021 AFL draft (father-son selection, matched bid by Gold Coast)- 2022 AFL debut- 118 games, 89 goals- Season averages: 34.9 disposals, 5.7 clearances, 6.7 inside-50s, 1.1 goals- Previous best Brownlow result: runner-up, 2024 (38 votes), 2025 (32 votes)- Polled in 18 of 22 games, polled three votes 13 times- Polled a record 47 votes to become the first Collingwood player to win the Brownlow since Dane Swan in 2011- Career votes: 156- Becomes Collingwood’s fourth highest vote winner of all time, only behind Scott Pendlebury (225), Dane Swan (186) and Nathan Buckley (164)