As of Round 22 2026, Nick Daicos leads the Brownlow Medal race with 40.43 projected votes, priced at $1.05 to win. Patrick Cripps sits second on 30.85 votes at $67, while Marcus Bontempelli is third on 28.17 votes at $23. The question is no longer whether Daicos wins, but whether he breaks Patrick Cripps' all-time record.
Another Collingwood win, another three votes to Nick Daicos. We're about to witness one of the most dominant Brownlow seasons in history. Who will feature on the podium with him?
Brownlow Leaderboard - Round 22
| Rank | Name | Team | Votes | Odds |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Nick Daicos | Coll | 40.43 | $1.05 |
| 2 | Patrick Cripps | Car | 30.85 | $67 |
| 3 | Marcus Bontempelli | WB | 28.17 | $23 |
| 4 | Jai Newcombe | Haw | 25.19 | $67 |
| 5 | Bailey Smith | Gee | 25.01 | $26 |
| 6 | Jordan Dawson | Ade | 23.63 | $81 |
| 7 | Will Ashcroft | BL | 21.67 | $61 |
| 8 | Max Gawn | Mel | 20.90 | $251 |
Best Bet
Nick Daicos
Another three votes for Nick Daicos, and the question isn't necessarily will he win, it's whether he will break Patrick Cripps' record.
Daicos will likely enter as the shortest favourite since 2017 when Dustin Martin entered Brownlow Night at $1.04 due to Patrick Dangerfield's suspension. The Richmond legend finished 11 votes clear of the next eligible player, and I can easily see Daicos replicating this margin this year.
Back Nick Daicos @ $1.05 with betr
Lay
Marcus Bontempelli
Second favourite, but once again it won't be Bont's year. A quiet fortnight for the Bulldogs skipper has put a pen through his chances to compete with Daicos two rounds out, and I've even got concerns about Bontempelli staying on the Brownlow podium.
With Brownlow Without Daicos markets emerging, Bont will be the likely favourite in those and someone I'd be keen to lay at a short price.
Cripps is a proven poller and has once again produced a big season for Carlton, while Bailey Smith's run home is extremely friendly with North Melbourne and Richmond to close the season.
Back Marcus Bontempelli @ $23 with betr
Value Bet
Chad Warner
Right now, our value plays aren't necessarily finding someone that can actually beat Nick Daicos, because reality is no one can from here. We're now looking for prop markets, and I think Chad Warner is a genuine top-ten shot when markets open.
Warner is a sensational poller, producing 20+ votes over the last two seasons, including 23 in 2024. His numbers are almost identical to 2024, if not better, with his disposals and goals nearly identical and a bump in inside-50s, contested possessions and clearances.
Last year Warner surprised everyone finishing equal-11th with 21 votes, despite the Swans winning just 12 games. With an 18-win season on the cards and not much Errol Gulden, will we see Warner back up there again?
Back Chad Warner @ $201 with betr
The Voting System - Why We Use a Weighted Average Approach
We use a weighted average system for Brownlow voting to improve accuracy and fairness in assessing player performances. The traditional 3-2-1 method limits vote allocations to whole numbers, often forcing a clear distinction between players whose performances may have been nearly identical. By contrast, our weighted system allows for decimal-based scoring (e.g. 2.5, 1.5, 0.5), providing a more nuanced reflection of each player's impact on the game.
This approach maintains the same total vote count per game (six votes) but offers greater flexibility in how those votes are distributed. As a result, it reduces arbitrary decision-making and captures subtle performance differences more effectively. Ultimately, this leads to more precise predictions and a leaderboard that better mirrors how games are perceived by fans, analysts and the broader football community.
