MAX Gawn has topped Melbourne’s Brownlow Medal tally for the 2019 season.

The ruckman finished with 17 votes in the count on Monday night, polling in eight matches and finishing equal-13th on the overall leaderboard.

He was acknowledged as the best player on the ground on two occasions, recording three votes in Round 12 against Collingwood, and Round 23 against North Melbourne.

Recognised for his impressive season with an All Australian selection last month, Gawn managed 36 hit-outs per game in 2019 – the most in the competition – and averaged a league-high 12 hit-outs to advantage.

The 27-year-old was influential across the ground, registering an average of 14 disposals, five score involvements and four marks from his 21 games.

Midfielder Clayton Oliver was the next best Demon in the league’s best and fairest count, receiving a total of 12 votes.

The 22-year-old polled in seven matches – two of which he was awarded three votes – and finished 28th overall.

Tom McDonald collected six votes from his limited games, while James Harmes was recognised for his efforts in 2019 with four votes.

Two red and blue also received votes for the very first time in their careers.

The versatile Bayley Fritsch was awarded two votes on two occasions – in Round 16 and Round 18 – while Marty Hore clocked up one vote for his impressive performance against Gold Coast in Round 8.

Co-captain Jack Viney tallied three votes; two in Round 14 and one in Round 17.  

Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe took out the league’s highest individual honour after a remarkable season for the Dockers. It was his second Brownlow Medal win, after taking home ‘Charlie’ in 2015.