Brownlow Medal 2026 LIVE updates: Results, winners, start time, predictions, how to watch

Brownlow Medal winner Nick Daicos said he always prided himself on working hard, following his history-making season.

Daicos polled 47 votes to take out the game’s highest individual honour, surpassing Patrick Cripps’ previous record of 45. He polled in 18 of 22 games. Bailey Smith finished second on 36 votes, while Marcus Bontempelli was third on 34.

“It definitely never feels like it’s easy out there,” Daicos said during his acceptance speech.

“I go into every game and there’s always the butterflies in the stomach and a little bit of nerves, and I sort of rely on what I do Monday to Friday to prepare myself for the weekend.

“From a young age, I probably had more talent and didn’t work as hard, and had some chats with Dad (Peter) and (brother) Josh as I grew up, and it was a realisation that I wanted to play AFL, and the realisation was that I needed to train harder.

“I think I owe it to the Collingwood Football Club to train with intensity. Also as a leader at the club, I can’t ask the bloke next to me to put his backside on the line and train really hard if I’m not doing it myself.”