Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has finally secured the Brownlow Medal he has long been destined to win, polling a record 47 votes to win the prestigious award in his fifth season and after three consecutive podium finishes.

The brilliant midfielder led for 23 of the 24 rounds and lived up to his unbackable pre-count billing in a powerful polling performance, winning by an equal record margin of 11 votes from Geelong star Bailey Smith (36) and Western Bulldogs champion Marcus Bontempelli (34).

Daicos became the 10th medallist in Collingwood history and the first since Dane Swan in 2011, polling in 18 games, including 13 best-on-grounds and a record six consecutive three-vote games.

He became the second player in history to break through the 40-vote barrier in round 20, joining dual winner Parick Cripps, and then broke the Carlton captain's 2024 record of 45 votes in round 23.

After finishing runner-up to Matt Rowell last year with 32 votes, and Cripps in 2024 with 38, Daicos saw off his challengers in a stunning run after round 10 and was declared the winner at round 21 when he had an unassailable 10-vote lead from Bontempelli.

The 23-year-old accepted his medal from former Carey Grammar school teammate Rowell, a year on from finishing runner-up to the Gold Coast midfielder.

The Magpie marvel's mix of skill, toughness and relentless work-rate was undeniable in 2026, and the umpires showered him with 16 votes in his first seven games.

He was tied with Bontempelli after failing to poll in round nine, and then slipped to second in round 10 as departing Port Adelaide star Zak Butters took the lead.

Smith then drew level with Daicos after his round 14 bye, but that was the last point at which Daicos was challenged as he went on an incredible run of eight best-on-ground games in nine rounds to secure the win.

Melbourne ruck Max Gawn (28 votes) finished fourth, with Brisbane's dual Norm Smith medallist Wil Ashcroft, Carlton champion Cripps, and North Melbourne star Harry Sheezel all tying for fifth with 27 votes.

Daicos became just the fifth player in history to win the Brownlow Medal along with the AFL Players Association MVP and AFL Coaches' Association champion player award in the same season, joining Gary Ablett jnr (2009), Patrick Dangerfield (2016), Dustin Martin (2017) and Lachie Neale (2020).

His crowning night was a celebration of an unrivalled season that saw the four-time All Australian lead the AFL for disposals (34.7 a game) and score involvements (9.0), while averaging 6.6 inside 50s, 10.8 contested possessions and 5.7 clearances.

On a record-breaking night, Geelong champion and 2016 winner Patrick Dangerfield polled three votes to draw level with Ablett jnr as the all-time leading vote-getter in Brownlow Medal history (262), while Bontempelli broke Dangerfield's all-time record for the most three-vote games in Brownlow history.

2026 Brownlow Medal, Top 10

Nick Daicos - 47 votes
Bailey Smith - 36
Marcus Bontempelli - 34
Max Gawn - 28
Will Ashcroft - 27
Patrick Cripps - 27
Harry Sheezel - 27
Zak Butters - 26
Isaac Heeney - 26
Izak Rankine - 25

Most Brownlow votes in a season

47 - Nick Daicos, 2026
45 - Patrick Cripps, 2024
39 - Matt Rowell, 2025
38 - Nick Daicos, 2024
36 - Dustin Martin, 2017
36 - Ollie Wines, 2021

Most three-vote games in Brownlow history

60 - Marcus Bontempelli
57 - Lachie Neale
56 - Patrick Dangerfield
55 - Gary Ablett jnr
46 - Chris Judd
45 - Patrick Cripps
45 - Gary Dempsey
45 - Sam Mitchell
45 - Robert Harvey
42 - Dustin Martin
42 - Nat Fyfe

Most Brownlow votes all-time

262 - Patrick Dangerfield
262 - Gary Ablett jnr
247 - Marcus Bontempelli
245 - Lachie Neale
232 - Patrick Cripps
230 - Scott Pendlebury
227 - Sam Mitchell
218.5 - Gary Dempsey
215 - Robert Harvey
214 - Joel Selwood