Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale has taken out the Merrett-Murray Medal to cap off a stellar 2022 season.

Neale was crowned as the Lions Best and Fairest with 66 votes ahead of fellow midfielder Hugh McCluggage (59), with defender Brandon Starcevich (51) finishing third.

The 29-year-old, who won the award in 2019 and 2020, created Club history claiming the honour in front of a large crowd at the Brisbane Convention and Exhibition Centre on Friday night.

He joins Dayne Zorko (five), Simon Black, Michael Voss and Jonathon Brown (three) as the only Lions to win the Merrett-Murray Medal three times or more.

Neale started the night as the red-hot favourite, with the likelihood of him winning reinforced after finishing runner-up in the Brownlow Medal just a fortnight ago.

The standout individual season saw Neale average 30.1 disposals, 7.3 clearances and 4.5 tackles per game in 2022.

As a result, the All-Australian midfielder finished second in the league for disposals with 749 and second in clearances with an impressive 191.

His biggest game statistically was in Brisbane’s win against Essendon in Round Two, where he dominated with 41 disposals, six marks and two goals.

Many rated the midfielder’s season as his best yet, or at least on par with his 2020 season, which saw him become a Brownlow Medallist.

McCluggage received the Nigel Lappin Trophy as the runner-up in the Best and Fairest, capping off one of the best seasons of his career.

The 24-year-old starred consistently on the wing which also saw him named in the extended All-Australian squad.

McCluggage’s goal-kicking ability from the midfield was again on display this year as he finished with 20 majors.

The former South Warrnambool junior racked up a career-best 33 disposals against St Kilda in Round 13, and an equal career-best four goals against both the Eagles and Giants.

Overall McCluggage averaged 24.7 disposals, 5.3 marks and 4.8 tackles.

A top-three finish from Brandon Starcevich will come as little surprise to many, with the defender beyond deserving of the Alastair Lynch Trophy.

The 23-year was rarely beaten this season despite having the tough task of taking the opposition’s most dangerous forwards on a weekly basis.

Not only did he shut down his opponents, Starcevich still found a way to often find plenty of the football himself - including a season-high 26 disposals against Essendon.

Merrett-Murray Medal – Top 10

1^st        Lachie Neale (66)

2^nd        Hugh McCluggage (59)

3^rd       Brandon Starcevich (51)

4^th       Harris Andrews (46)

5th       Charlie Cameron (46)

6^th       Jarrod Berry (43)

7^th       Daniel Rich (41)

8^th       Lincoln McCarthy (40)

9^th       Oscar McInerney (39)

10^th     Zac Bailey (38)