Nick Daicos could become the first Collingwood Brownlow Medallist in 12 years when the count kicks off on Monday night.
After producing a standout second season, the 20-year-old has been in Brownlow conversations since Round One.
Averaging 31.2 disposals across his 20 home and away season games, Daicos plied his trade at half-back early in the year, before making a move into the midfield halfway through 2023 that produced immediate success.
He could have as many as 15 votes after just six Rounds after a scarcely believable start to the season, while his mid-season form was just as good.
If successful, he will become Collingwood’s 10th Brownlow Medallist and join the likes of Dane Swan, Nathan Buckley and Peter Moore to have won the medal in the same year the Club reached the Grand Final.
Jordan De Goey is also expected to poll well after one of the best seasons of his career to date.
The 27-year-old missed five home and away season games, however put together a first half of the year rivalled by few.
With standout performances against Geelong (Round One), Richmond (Round Three) and GWS (Round Nine), De Goey is tipped to receive maximum votes on multiple occasions.
Josh Daicos’ consistent season will see him frequently among the vote-getters too.
The wingman polled four votes across three separate games last year and that is expected to rise in 2023, having averaged over 26 disposals in an All-Australian season.
The 24-year-old gathered 30 or more possessions six times this year including a career high 38 in Round 22 against Geelong – one of seven games where he will be in the mix for votes.
The evergreen Scott Pendlebury will also pick up votes in 2023 to add to his career tally of 215.
While already holding the record for most Brownlow votes without having won the medal and sitting fifth all-time in votes received, Pendlebury will move into fourth if he receives 13 votes on Monday.
Steele Sidebottom could also reach a milestone on the night with the 2018 runner up needing two votes to reach 100 in his career.
Strong performances against Essendon on Anzac Day and in Round 19 against Port Adelaide will likely see him bring up his century.
With a top of the table finish and up to 15 players who could feasibly receive votes, expect the Pies to feature heavily on Brownlow night.
Collingwood Brownlow Medal winners
Syd Coventry (1927)
Albert Collier (1929)
Harry Collier (1930)
Marcus Whelan (1939)
Des Fothergill (1940)
Len Thompson (1972)
Peter Moore (1979)
Nathan Buckley (2003)
Dane Swan (2011)
How to watch and live stream
The 2023 Brownlow Medal will be broadcast live and free in Australia on Channel 7 and 7mate and live streamed on 7Plus from 7.30pm AEST. The night starts with the Red Carpet arrivals before the count gets underway at 8pm AEST.
The count will also be live streamed on the AFL Live Official App from 8pm AEST. Download from the App Store or Google Play.
To watch the count from overseas, sign up for watchafl.com.au.
How to follow online
Instead of just watching the broadcast, fire up your second screen and follow every vote for every player with the live Brownlow Tracker.
The live Brownlow leaderboard will also update regularly, and you can 'pin' your favourite players to the top to see how they're going compared to the frontrunners.
Key timings (all times approximate and in AEST)
5.15pm: Red Carpet guest arrivals
7.30pm: Red Carpet broadcast commences on the Seven Network
8.05pm: Brownlow Medal count broadcast begins on Seven and the AFL Live Official App
8.40pm: Jim Stynes Community Award winner announced
9.05pm: Four'N Twenty Mark of The Year & rebel Goal of the Year winners announced
10.45pm: Brownlow Medal winner announced
