Carlton captain Patrick Cripps has won his first Brownlow Medal in the wake of the AFL tribunal’s dramatic overturning of a suspension that would have ruled him ineligible.
Cripps claimed the AFL’s highest honour for the first time with three votes in Carlton’s heartbreaking round 23 loss to Collingwood to sneak home on 29 votes ahead of Brisbane gun Neale (28 votes) and Gold Coast’s Touk Miller (27).
But the 27-year-old had a stroke of luck at the tribunal to thank.
Cripps received a two-match ban after round 21 for a bump that concussed Brisbane’s Callum Ah Chee – which would have ruled him ineligible for the Brownlow – but had it surprisingly overturned in a marathon tribunal hearing on August 11.
It allowed him to play in round 22, where he didn’t poll, and round 23, where Cripps sealed victory.
Cripps, in the final announcement of the count, drew the maximum votes for 35 disposals and 12 clearances in the one-point loss to Collingwood that ultimately cost the Blues a finals berth.
“To be honest, by the end of the game I was that numb,” he said.
“I’d rather get zero touches and win than play the way I did.
“I’d love to be sober this time next year. That’s my goal.”
Miller and Neale entered round 23 on 27 apiece but Miller failed to poll and Neale earned just one vote.
Cripps is the first Blue to win the Brownlow since former skipper Chris Judd in 2010.
“I don’t know whether to laugh or cry,” Cripps said as he accepted the prestigious medal.
Overall, Cripps polled in 13 games and earned the maximum three votes seven times.
He arguably could have added a couple more votes to his tally but received just one for his three-goal, 30-disposal effort against Richmond in round one.
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Cripps, 27, first took the lead in round seven but was pegged back by Neale, who led for much of the count from round eight.
Fremantle star Andrew Brayshaw finished fourth with Melbourne’s Clayton Oliver on 25 votes but failed to poll in the final three rounds.
Essendon ruckman Sam Draper won goal of the year while Port Adelaide forward Mitch Georgiades claimed mark of the year.
Geelong captain Joel Selwood was awarded the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award.
Sunday night’s count was moved from the traditional Monday night timeslot due to the funeral of Queen Elizabeth II.
George Apps
Roar Rookie
Who's a Melbourne fan, not me.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
16yo girls are not doing that. Pay attention. Follow the conversation. Perhaps "demographic" is beyond your frame of reference.
G money
Roar Rookie
Mature? Kind of like spam trolling biased nonsense on how great the Fremantle Dockers are to all and sundry all day everyday.
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
No. Kane's suggested demographic, intended to be an insult, is far more balanced and mature than the comments from each of you.
Chanon
Roar Rookie
Haha the umps checked his nails prior to game but they forgot to check his toe nails :stoked: The ‘bleeder’ was a cry baby he may bleed yellow & black but when coach of the red & black they tossed him out with the dirty laundry :stoked:
G money
Roar Rookie
How about 'negative sooky man children' Don? does that fit?
Ace
Roar Rookie
Exactly..far too many on here
Ace
Roar Rookie
You must be talking about his son Chanon.. There's a certain white Knight from Richmond who would argue with you Even though you are pot stirring
Ace
Roar Rookie
There's always one..
G money
Roar Rookie
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mrl
Roar Rookie
Can I be serious for a moment….the winner was the entire AFL community who embraced Danielle Laidley. That was absolute magic on the red carpet, she would never had thought that walk would be possible. I’ve a friend going through the same experience. Apologies for my stupid comments over the weekend…drinking too much. A friend took me to see Norwood triumph yesterday…it was awesome. Now go the Swannies!!
Spanner
Roar Rookie
Well done Cripps a deserved winner
Don Freo
Roar Rookie
Be thankful "16yo schoolgirls" are not the demographic for this site. What a pathetic stereotype, Kane.
Kane
Roar Rookie
Didn’t realise there were so many 16 year old schoolgirls on this page. Have a sook you lot, how many clubs haven’t challenged a decision from the tribunal
Marty
Roar Rookie
You mean when Judd threw an elbow that split Pavs face open but the tribunal ruled there was ‘insufficient force’? What a joke that was.
Marty
Roar Rookie
Bit rude not to thank the lawyers in his speech.
Cat
Roar Guru
The ‘irony’ is this is the second Carlton winner in a row that shouldn’t have been eligible
Kane
Roar Rookie
Bulldust
Chanon
Roar Rookie
In 1990 he was a a lovely young lad never pinched or scratched just made a bee line for ball not man. Base your knowledge on fact not fiction.
Diesel-747
Roar Rookie
Melbourne supporter George I see..