Brisbane Lions star Lachie Neale has taken out the 2023 Brownlow Medal after a brilliant season.
In a thrilling count, Neale held out Marcus Bontempelli and Nick Daicos to take out the most prestigious individual honour in the AFL.
The final round of voting began with Neale on 28, sitting equal first with Daicos whose injury in round 21 ultimately cost him the medal.
RECAP: All the results from the 2023 Brownlow Medal night
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Bontempelli, shock contender Errol Gulden and Christian Petracca were in all contention during the final round too with 26 votes.
Round 24's fixture between Port Adelaide and Richmond landed Power star Zak Butters three votes to put him into third on 27.
Gulden claimed one vote against Melbourne to go equal third while Petracca missed out completely.
Bontempelli went into first with three votes against the Cats to finish on 29, bringing about a massive cheer from the crowd.
Neale's 30 possession match against St Kilda was enough to earn him three points as he jumped ahead of Bontempelli and Daicos to finish with 31 votes and become the 16th person to become a dual Brownlow medallist.
Speaking from the Gabba, Brisbane, Neale said the two-time medallist title "doesn't sit very well".
"I'm sure it'll sink in at a later date, I'm pretty rattled at the moment so apologies if this doesn't go too well, I did not expect this," he said in his acceptance speech on Seven's coverage.
"To be amongst some of those names that have one two is unbelievable."
When given the floor to thank people, Neale also admitted he "hadn't prepared anything".
Neale's win also makes him the fourth winner to miss out on selection in the All-Australian team. Shane Woewodin (2000), Sam Mitchell (2012) and Matthew Priddis (2014) were the medalists before him.
The midfielder will be front and centre when the Lions play Collingwood in the grand final on Saturday at 2:30pm.
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