IN A THRILLING count on Sunday night, Patrick Cripps claimed the 2022 Brownlow Medal.
Clayton Oliver was just four votes shy of victory finishing equal fourth on 25 votes, while Christian Petracca placed sixth with 24 votes to his name.
The count went down to the wire, with four players in the running with one round to play, but Cripps’ three votes against the Pies saw him secure victory on 29 votes, just one clear of Lion Lachie Neale.
Gold Coast gun Touk Miller came in third on 27 votes, while Docker Andrew Brayshaw tied with Oliver in fourth.
Oliver, who had an outstanding individual season to claim the AFL Coaches Association’s Most Valuable Player Award, polled four best on grounds from his 21 home and away games.
In an umpire-based 3-2-1 voting system, Oliver earned recognition in 12 matches, while Petracca’s name was called out on 10 occasions with six three-vote games.
Last year, Oliver received 31 votes to place third behind Ollie Wines and Marcus Bontempelli.
Sunday night’s count at Crown Palladium saw 10 Demons poll throughout the evening for a team total of 94 votes.
Leaderboard
29 – Patrick Cripps
28 – Lachie Neale
27 – Touk Miller
25 – Andrew Brayshaw, Clayton Oliver
24 – Christian Petracca
21 – Callum Mills
19 – Dion Prestia, Jeremy Cameron
Melbourne’s Leaderboard
25 – Clayton Oliver
24 – Christian Petracca
12 – Max Gawn
7 – Angus Brayshaw, Ed Langdon, Jack VIney
4 – Kysaiah Pickett
2 – James Harmes, Luke Jackson, Tom McDonald
