STAR Melbourne midfielder Clayton Oliver has added to his stellar 2021 campaign, finishing third in the 2021 Brownlow Medal.  

The 24-year-old received 31 votes for his efforts this season, the highest vote tally of any Melbourne player in the club's history within the 3-2-1 system. 

Oliver finished behind Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines (36 votes) and the Western Bulldogs’ Marcus Bontempelli (33 votes).

Wines became his club’s first winner of the league’s highest honour, capping off a standout year.

For Oliver, his impact was recognised across 13 games, in a season where he continued his dominance in the middle.

The Demons’ No.13 topped the competition in contested possessions (388) and total clearances (167) throughout the home-and-away season while averaging 31.6 disposals (fifth highest in the league).

The recognition adds to an impressive list of achievements so far this year, where he received both the AFL Coaches Association’s Champion Player of the Year Award and All-Australian honours.

Teammate Christian Petracca, who has been equally influential to his side’s success this season, was the next best Demon with 23 votes.

The 25-year-old finished in equal-ninth place after averaging 28.8 disposals and kicking 27 goals across the regular fixture.

Skipper Max Gawn rounded out the top performers, collecting 16 votes to finish in equal 17^th position, while Tom McDonald (eight votes) and Jake Lever (five votes) were also recognised.

Forward Bayley Fritsch, NAB AFL Rising Star Luke Jackson and hard-nut Jack Viney all clocked up three votes each, with Kysaiah Pickett (two votes) and Steven May (one vote) the other two players to add to Melbourne's tally of 96 votes.

It marked the highest ever total recorded by the Demons, with Oliver and Petracca both setting new personal bests.

2021 Brownlow Medal Final Leaderboard

1^st Ollie Wines (PORT) – 36 votes
2^nd Marcus Bontempelli (WB) – 33 votes
3^rd Clayton Oliver (MELB) – 31 votes
4^th Sam Walsh (CARL) – 30 votes
= 5^th Darcy Parish (ESS) – 26 votes
= 5^th Jack Steele (STK) – 26 votes

Melbourne's 2021 Brownlow Medal Final Leaderboard

3^rd Clayton Oliver – 31 votes
= 9^th Christian Petracca – 23 votes
= 17^th Max Gawn – 16 votes
= 40^th Tom McDonald – 8 votes
= 68^th Jake Lever – 5 votes
= 98^th Bayley Fritsch – 3 votes
= 98^th Luke Jackson – 3 votes
= 98^th Jack Viney – 3 votes
= 132^nd Kysaiah Pickett – 2 votes
= 160^th Steven May – 1 vote
= 160th Christian Salem - 1 vote