Brownlow Medal 2026 LIVE updates: Brownlow count begins, banned Swan with an early vote; Butters, Merrett open up on trade period

A tick before 7pm several of the invited Swans players – those that received an invite to attend this year’s Brownlow were Charlie Curnow, Dane Rampe, Brodie Grundy, Logan McDonald and Tom McCartin – started to drift into the ballroom and find their table.

Swans chief executive Matthew Pavlich arrived at his table just minutes before the first of his players appeared. The club’s head coach, Dean Cox, was already seated.

Of course, the Swans’ star midfielders Isaac Heeney and Chad Warner were banned from attending the Brownlow count in the wake of their participation in a boozy in-season bender at the Pullman Hotel last month, along with three other players from the club.

Hot favourite Nick Daicos has been in good company today ahead of tonight’s Brownlow Medal count, which is expected to start around 8pm.

The Magpie superstar enjoyed lunch with 2016 winner Patrick Dangerfield - as well as his manager Robbie D’Orazio. But sorry, Robbie, we are more interested in what Danger had to say.

“He was actually really good to speak to,” Daicos told Channel 7 on the red carpet. “He has won one obviously and said, ‘just be yourself, have fun and if it is to be, it will be’.”

Another player of interest on the red carpet was Hawks skipper James Sicily, who copped a $10,000 fine for umpire abuse following Saturday night’s heartbreaking loss to Brisbane.

Sicily told Seven his post-match behaviour was “not on” and he would seek out umpire Hayden Young during the night to apologise. Good to see the Hawk leader is owning his poor behaviour.

Behind expected Brownlow Medal winner Nick Daicos, Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli is set to share a slice of history.

Daicos is the overwhelming favourite to be crowned the AFL’s best player this season at tonight’s medal count in Melbourne.

The Collingwood ace is set to win his first Brownlow, following runner-up finishes in the past two seasons, a third placing in 2023, and an eighth place in his debut season of 2022.

But Bontempelli is in the frame for a third runner-up slot – equalling the most second placings in the award’s history. Geelong’s Edward “Carji” Greeves also was a three-time runner-up – though he also won the inaugural medal in 1924. And St Kilda’s Harold Bray finished second in 1947, 1949, and 1952.

Hello and welcome to our coverage of the 2026 Brownlow Medal count. My name is Danny Russell, and I’ll be keeping you up to speed with all the action.