It was a count for the ages, with Lachie Neale going painfully close to joining some of the all-time greats with a second Brownlow. Falling just one vote short of eventual winner, Patrick Cripps.

In arguably his best season to date, Neale polled 3 votes on seven different occasions and was leading the votes in the last round, before Cripps went one better with a best on ground effort against Collingwood.

Hugh McCluggage was recognised for another strong season with a career-best 14 votes, including three best on ground performances.

Interestingly, Zac Bailey only managed two votes for his Round 6 performance in QClash, where he kicked six goals and won the Marcus Ashcroft Medal.

Jarryd Lyons took the three votes from that round, taking his tally to seven votes for the year.

Cam Rayner unsurprisingly was given ‘best on’ honours for his four-goal performance against St Kilda in Round 22 while Jarrod Berry, Rhys Mathieson and Dan McStay all received two votes each on the night.

Keidean Coleman polled his first career Brownlow vote for his performance against Richmond in Round 20, while Linc McCarthy snuck in for a single vote for his five-goal effort against North Melbourne in Round 3.

Where the votes fell:

Round 1 v Port Adelaide
Lachie Neale - 2 votes
31 disposals, 7 marks, 7 clearances, 5 i50s

Round 2 v Essendon
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
41 disposals, 12 clearances, 9 score involvements, 2 goals

Hugh McCluggage - 2 votes 
19 disposals, 3 goals, 6 marks

Round 3 v North
Jarryd Lyons - 3 votes
28 disposals, 2 goals, 12 score involvements

Dayne Zorko - 2 votes
28 disposals, 10 marks, 13 score involvements

Linc McCarthy - 1 vote
5 goals, 15 disposals, 8 marks

07:41

How it unfolded: Rd 3 against North Melbourne

The Lions and Kangaroos clash in round three.

Round 4 v Geelong
Dan McStay - 1 vote
3 goals, 14 disposals, 11 marks

Round 5 v Collingwood
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
33 disposals, 5 tackles, one goal

Round 6 v Gold Coast
Jarryd Lyons - 3 votes
30 disposals, 10 tackles, 13 clearances

Zac Bailey - 2 votes
6 goals, 17 disposals, 8 score involvements

01:36

A career high for Bailey

Crafty Lion Zac Bailey burns the Suns with a phenomenal six-goal haul

Round 7 v Sydney
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
37 disposals, 9 tackles, one goal

Dayne Zorko - 1 vote
22 disposals, 2 goals, 6 i50s

Round 8 v West Coast
Hugh McCluggage - 3 votes
4 goals, 26 disposals, 10 tackles

Lachie Neale - 2 votes
29 disposals, 6 tackles, 10 clearances

Charlie Cameron - 1 vote
4 goals, 10 disposals, 7 score involvements

 

00:51

Game Changer Rd 8: Lachie Neale

Sit back and just take a minute to watch a master at his craft, Lachie Neale was just clean on the weekend earning him the fans vote of Game Changer for round 8 presented by Youi Insurance.

Round 9 v Adelaide
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
36 disposals, 7 intercepts, one goal

Dayne Zorko - 2 votes
26 disposals, 2 goals, 5 clearances

Hugh McCluggage - 1 vote
22 disposals, 5 tackles

Round 10 v Hawthorn
No votes

Round 11 v GWS
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
39 disposals, 2 goals, 9 clearances

Jarrod Berry - 1 vote
33 disposals, 10 score involvements, 10 marks

01:03

Youi Game Changer Rd 11: Jarrod Berry

Jarrod Berry got a career high disposals on the weekend with 33 disposals. He was an important link to our attack and is very deserving of the fans vote for Youi Game Changer, presented by Youi insurance.

Round 12 v Fremantle
Zac Bailey - 1 vote
4 goals, 22 disposals

Round 13 v St Kilda
Hugh McCluggage - 3 votes
33 disposals, 7 clearances, one goal

Lachie Neale - 2 votes
37 disposals, 7 clearances, 8 score involvements

Jarryd Lyons - 1 vote
29 disposals, 5 clearances

Round 14 – BYE

Round 15 v Melbourne
No votes

Round 16 v Western Bulldogs
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
33 disposals, 7 tackles, one goal

Charlie Cameron - 2 votes
4 goals, 12 disposals, 9 score involvements

Jarrod Berry - 1 vote
2 goals, 23 disposals

06:38

How it unfolded: Round 16 against the Bulldogs

The Lions and Bulldogs clash in round 16.

Round 17 v Essendon
No votes

Round 18 v GWS

Hugh McCluggage - 3 votes
4 goals, 29 disposals, 8 marks

Rhys Mathieson - 2 votes
23 disposals, 17 contested possessions, 10 clearances

Cam Rayner - 1 vote
3 goals, 19 disposals

Round 19 v Gold Coast
Hugh McCluggage - 1 vote
25 disposals, 1 one goal

Round 20 v Richmond
Keidean Coleman - 1 vote
30 disposals, 9 intercepts, 5 marks

Round 21 v Carlton
Lachie Neale - 3 votes
32 disposals, 9 clearances, one goal

Zac Bailey - 2 votes
4 goals, 19 disposals, 6 marks

Dan McStay - 1 vote
4 goals, 7 marks

00:42

Rayner with a big goal

Cam Rayner bursts forward and slams through an absolute ripping goal from distance.

Round 22 v St Kilda
Cam Rayner - 3 votes
4 goals, 18 disposals

Hugh McCluggage - 1 vote
24 disposals, one goal

Round 23 v Melbourne
Lachie Neale - 1 vote
29 disposals, 6 tackles

Final Lions Leaderboard

Lachie Neale – 28 votes

Hugh McCluggage – 14 votes

Jarryd Lyons – 7 votes

Zac Bailey – 5 votes

Dayne Zorko – 5 votes

Cam Rayner – 4 votes

Charlie Cameron – 3 votes

Jarrod Berry – 2 votes

Rhys Mathieson – 2 votes

Dan McStay – 2 votes

Keidean Coleman – 1 vote

Linc McCarthy – 1 vote