PRIOR to 2020, Christian Petracca had polled just five Brownlow Medal votes in 85 AFL games.
On Sunday night, that trend changed.
Placing equal-third in a count like no other, Petracca trailed just Lachie Neale (31 votes) and Travis Boak (21 votes), to tie with Jack Steele on 20 votes.
But he wasn’t the only Demon recognised throughout the count.
Clayton Oliver polled consistently to finish in equal-ninth position with 14 votes, while his skipper, Max Gawn, flew out of the gates to receive 13 votes and place equal-11th.
The Demons were the only club to have three players inside the Top 11 and came equal-sixth in the league with 61 votes for the team.
Eight Dees had their names called out across the 17-game season, but it was Ed Langdon who may have been the unluckiest not to receive a vote.
In his first year for Melbourne, the specialist wingman came fourth in the club’s Best and Fairest Award – ahead of Oliver and Gawn – but wasn’t recognised for his efforts in 2020.
Through the eyes of the umpires, Petracca was best afield on six occasions, while Gawn received the two votes five times – three of which came in losses.
Oliver polled in seven games – the same number as Petracca – leading the way for the Demons in a consistent campaign.
Take a look at a break-down of the votes from each of Melbourne’s matches this season.
Round 1
West Coast 12.6 (78) def Melbourne 7.9 (51)
3. D.Sheed
2. A.Gaff
1. J.Viney
Round 2 v Carlton
Carlton 7.11 (53) def by Melbourne 8.6 (54)
3. C.Petracca
2. M.Gawn
1. S.Docherty
Round 3
BYE
Round 4
Melbourne 6.8 (44) def by Geelong 7.5 (47)
3. C.Guthrie
2. M.Gawn
1. S.Menegola
Round 5
Melbourne 8.4 (52) def by Richmond 12.7 (79)
3. K.Lambert
2. M.Gawn
1. C.Oliver
Round 6
Melbourne 12.8 (80) def Gold Coast 9.9 (63)
3. C.Petracca
2. M.Gawn
1. I.Rankine
Round 7
Hawthorn 7.6 (48) def by Melbourne 14.7 (91)
3. M.Gawn
2. C.Petracca
1. C.Oliver
Round 8
Melbourne 7.7 (49) def by Brisbane 7.11 (53)
3. L.Neale
2. C.Oliver
1. J.Lyons
Round 9
Melbourne 4.8 (32) def by Port Adelaide 12.11 (83)
3. T.Boak
2. T.Rockliff
1. M.Georgiades
Round 10
Adelaide 5.7 (37) def by Melbourne 13.10 (88)
3. C.Oliver
2. J.Viney
1. S.May
Round 11
Melbourne 13.14 (92) def North Melbourne 5.5 (35)
3. C.Petracca
2. C.Oliver
1. A.Brayshaw
Round 12
Melbourne 16.4 (100) def Collingwood 6.8 (44)
3. C.Petracca
2. C.Oliver
1. B.Fritsch
Round 13
Western Bulldogs 12.8 (80) def Melbourne 7.10 (52)
3. B.Smith
2. M.Wallis
1. J.Macrae
Round 14
Melbourne 8.4 (52) def St Kilda 7.7 (49)
3. C.Petracca
2. S.May
1. J.Steele
Round 15
Sydney 10.7 (67) def Melbourne 6.10 (46)
3. L.Parker
2. M.Gawn
1. R.Clarke
Round 16
Melbourne 4.9 (33) def by Fremantle 6.11 (47)
3. A.Cerra
2. J.Viney
1. M.Walters
Round 17
GWS 11.8 (74) def by Melbourne 12.7 (79)
3. C.Oliver
2. B.Daniels
1. J.Viney
Round 18
Essendon 7.7 (49) def by Melbourne 10.8 (68)
3. C.Petracca
2. M.Brown
1. S.May
Melbourne Leaderboard:
20 – C.Petracca
14 – C.Oliver
13 – M.Gawn
6 – J.Viney
4 – S.May
2 – M.Brown
1 – A.Brayshaw
1 – B.Fritsch
