ANGUS Brayshaw, who was not invited to this year’s Brownlow Medal, has finished third in the 2018 award, behind winner, Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell, and runner-up, Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom.

It was a remarkable achievement by Brayshaw given he was an emergency in round one, played in a VFL practice match in round two and played in the opening round of the VFL season in round three, before playing his first AFL match this year in round four.

He polled in nine matches, securing two best-on-ground performances and six ‘two voters’.

Ruckman Max Gawn, who was one of the favourites entering the match, secured 20 votes, after polling in nine games.

He finished equal fourth overall, along with Carlton’s Patrick Cripps.

It meant that the top five in this year’s Brownlow were two Melbourne players: an outstanding achievement, given the club hasn’t made much impact in the Brownlow race for a long time.

In fact, it was the best effort since Adem Yze polled 17 votes in 2002 – and since Shane Woewodin won Melbourne’s most recent Brownlow Medal in 2000.

And not since Peter Moore won his second Brownlow Medal with Melbourne in 1984 – he won his first with Collingwood in 1979 – and Robert Flower finished third in '84 had two Demons finished that high. 

In total, 15 Melbourne players polled votes.

Clayton Oliver, who was another leading contender, finished with 13 votes.

Melbourne claimed its first Brownlow vote of the night via Christian Petracca, who managed one in his side’s three-point opening round loss to Geelong at the MCG.

The Demons then made it a clean sweep in round two – following their first win of the season over the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba – courtesy of Jesse Hogan (three), Nathan Jones (two) and Jeff Garlett (one).

Gawn secured his first lot of votes when he was best-on-ground against North Melbourne in round three, while Petracca became the first Demon to poll twice this season, when he was awarded two against the Roos. Hogan was the first to poll in back-to-back games.

Melbourne failed to attract the umpires in rounds four and five, when it went down to Hawthorn and Richmond respectively at the MCG.

In round six, Gawn was named best-on-ground for the second time this season, while Jones secured another two and Michael Hibberd claimed a vote against his former side, Essendon.

Oliver opened his account in round seven, when he got three votes against St Kilda and Hogan received another vote. But it was in this match that Brayshaw, not only notched up his first Brownlow vote, but polled 21 votes over his last 16 matches of the season.

James Harmes (three), Christian Salem (two) and Tom McDonald (one) all got their first votes for the season against the Suns in round eight.

And a career-best five goals against Carlton resulted in three votes to Jake Melksham – his first since 2011 – while Jones earned his third lot of two votes. Jake Lever also got his second Brownlow vote – and first with the Dees.

Alex Neal-Bullen earned his first Brownlow votes in style, with three against the Crows in Alice Springs, while Brayshaw added two more and Jack Viney got his first vote for the season.

Gawn moved to seven votes, after he got one against the Bulldogs in round 11, while Brayshaw added another two and T.McDonald was named best-on-ground.

After polling in every match from rounds six to 11, not surprisingly, Melbourne didn’t manage a vote in its Queen’s Birthday loss to Collingwood.

The Demons had the bye in round 13, before Viney was named best-on-ground in Melbourne’s narrow loss to Port Adelaide at Adelaide Oval in round 14.

Although Melbourne went down to St Kilda in round 15, Brayshaw polled two votes for the fourth time to jump in front of Gawn by one – and lead Melbourne’s tally with eight, entering round 16. 

In rounds 16 and 17, Brayshaw, Gawn and Oliver polled all the votes.

It meant Brayshaw had 13 votes to be equal eighth overall, while Gawn had 12. Oliver had five.

But Gawn regained the Melbourne lead with 14 votes, after landing two against the Cats in round 18, while Jones received one to have seven.

Gawn polled for the fourth consecutive round – he got two against the Crows in round 19 – and moved into equal fourth overall with 16 votes. But he still trailed by nine votes, ahead of eventual winner Mitchell. Oliver polled his second best-on-ground to move to eight votes.

Brayshaw continued to rack up the votes and ticked over to 15, when he got two against the Suns. Oliver was named best-on-ground, meaning he had received votes in four of the past five matches.

‘Clarry’ added two against the Swans in round 21 to finish with 13 votes, where he was Melbourne’s only vote-getter in this match.

And when Brayshaw was named best-on-ground in round 22 and 23 against West Coast and GWS respectively, he shot into third place with 21 votes – capping off a remarkable effort.

Gawn polled two votes against both the Eagles and Giants, while Melksham gained one against West Coast.

For the record, six players have won Brownlow Medals for Melbourne, with its first winner, Ivor Warne-Smith, winning it twice in 1926 and 1928. Don Cordner (1946), Brian Wilson (1982), Peter Moore (1984), Jim Stynes (1991) and Shane Woewodin (2000) have also won the game’s highest individual honour with Melbourne.

Melbourne at the 2018 Brownlow Medal

Round 1: Melbourne v Geelong Cats, MCG (H)

3 – Gary Ablett (Geel)

2 – Joel Selwood (Geel)

1 – Christian Petracca (Melb)

Round 2: Brisbane Lions v Melbourne, Gabba (A)

3 – Jesse Hogan (Melb)

2 – Nathan Jones (Melb)

1 – Jeff Garlett (Melb)

Round 3: Melbourne v North Melbourne, MCG (H)

3 – Max Gawn (Melb)

2 – Christian Petracca (Melb)

1 – Jesse Hogan (Melb)

Round 4: Hawthorn v Melbourne, MCG (A)

3 – Liam Shiels (Haw)

2 – Jaeger O’Meara (Haw)

1 – Luke Breust (Haw)

Round 5: Melbourne v Richmond, MCG (H)

3 – Kane Lambert (Rich)

2 – Dustin Martin (Rich)

1 – Shane Edwards (Rich)

Round 6: Essendon v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (A)

3 – Max Gawn (Melb)

2 – Nathan Jones (Melb)

1 – Michael Hibberd (Melb)

Round 7: St Kilda v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (A)

3 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – Jesse Hogan (Melb)

Round 8: Gold Coast Suns v Melbourne, Gabba (A)

3 – James Harmes (Melb)

2 – Christian Salem (Melb)

1 – Tom McDonald (Melb)

Round 9: Carlton v Melbourne, MCG (A)

3 – Jake Melksham (Melb)

2 – Nathan Jones (Melb)

1 – Jake Lever (Melb)

Round 10: Melbourne v Adelaide, TIO Traeger Park (H)

3 – Alex Neal-Bullen (Melb)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – Jack Viney (Melb)

Round 11: Western Bulldogs v Melbourne, Etihad Stadium (A)

3 – Tom McDonald (Melb)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – Max Gawn (Melb)

Round 12: Melbourne v Collingwood, MCG (H)

3 – Mason Cox (Coll)

2 – Jordan De Goey (Coll)

1 – Steele Sidebottom (Coll)

Round 13: Bye

Round 14: Port Adelaide v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (A)

3 – Jack Viney (Melb)

2 – Tom Jonas (PA)

1 – Ollie Wines (PA)

Round 15: Melbourne v St Kilda, MCG (H)

3 – Jack Steven (St K)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – Tim Membrey (St K)

Round 16: Melbourne v Fremantle, TIO Stadium (H)

3 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

2 – Max Gawn (Melb)

1 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

Round 17: Melbourne v Western Bulldogs, MCG (H)

3 – Max Gawn (Melb)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

Round 18: Geelong Cats v Melbourne, GMHBA Stadium (A)

3 – Tom Hawkins (Geel)

2 – Max Gawn (Melb)

1 – Nathan Jones (Melb)

Round 19: Adelaide Crows v Melbourne, Adelaide Oval (A)

3 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

2 – Max Gawn (Melb)

1 – Wayne Milera (Ade)

Round 20: Melbourne v Gold Coast Suns, MCG (H)

3 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

2 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

1 – James Harmes (Melb)

Round 21: Melbourne v Sydney Swans, MCG (H)

3 – Isaac Heeney (SS)

2 – Clayton Oliver (Melb)

1 – Aliir Aliir (SS)

Round 22: West Coast Eagles v Melbourne, Optus Stadium (A)

3 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

2 – Max Gawn (Melb)

1 – Jake Melksham (Melb)

Round 23: Melbourne v GWS Giants, MCG (A)

3 – Angus Brayshaw (Melb)

2 – Max Gawn (Melb)

1 – Stephen Coniglio (GWS)

Total Melbourne Brownlow Medal votes

Angus Brayshaw 2, 2, 2, 2, 3, 2, 2, 3, 3 (21)

Max Gawn 3, 3, 1, 2, 3, 2, 2, 2, 2 (20)

Clayton Oliver 3, 1, 1, 3, 3, 2 (13)

Nathan Jones 2, 2, 2, 1 (7)

Jesse Hogan 3, 1, 1 (5)

James Harmes 3, 1 (4)

Tom McDonald 1, 3 (4)

Jake Melksham 3, 1 (4)

Jack Viney 1, 3 (4)

Alex Neal-Bullen 3 (3)

Christian Petracca 1, 2 (3)

Christian Salem 2 (2)

Jeff Garlett 1 (2)

Michael Hibberd 1 (1)

Jake Lever 1 (1)