After Daicos, Brownlow medal history awaits top Dog

Steve Larkin |

Collingwood’s Nick Daicos is a expected to easily win the 2026 Brownlow medal.
Collingwood’s Nick Daicos is a expected to easily win the 2026 Brownlow medal.

Behind expected Brownlow Medal winner Nick Daicos, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is set to share a slice of history.

Daicos is the overwhelming favourite to be crowned the AFL’s best player this season at Monday night’s medal count in Melbourne.

The Collingwood ace is set to win his first Brownlow, following runner-up finishes in the past two seasons, a third placing in 2023, and an eighth place in his debut season of 2022.

Bontempelli
Top Bulldog Marcus Bontempelli will share a slice of Brownlow history if he’s runner-up again. (Matt Turner/AAP PHOTOS)

But Bontempelli is in the frame for a third runner-up slot – equalling the most second placings in the award’s history.

Geelong’s Edward ‘Carji’ Greeves also was a three-time runner-up – though he also won the inaugural medal in 1924.

And St Kilda’s Harold Bray finished second in 1947, 1949, and 1952.

Bontempelli is a proven vote-getter who has polled more than any other Bulldog in history.

But the Bulldogs champ and his former teammate and now Geelong midfielder Bailey Smith sit far behind Daicos in betting markets.

Cripps
Carlton captain Patrick Cripps won the 2024 Brownlow with a record amount of votes. (Joel Carrett/AAP PHOTOS)

Daicos is tipped to be a runaway winner – he’s $1.01 favourite with many bookmakers, and is projected to break Patrick Cripps’ record winning tally of 45 votes in 2024.

Bontempelli is about $51 in the eyes of the bookies with Smith around $67.

Carlton captain Cripps ($81), Brisbane’s Will Ashcroft ($101), Adelaide skipper Jordan Dawson ($151) and dual winner Lachie Neale ($151) are next-best in the market.

AAP