# Nick Daicos wins 2026 Brownlow Medal with record votes > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/nick-daicos-brownlow-medal-favoritism > Updated: 2026-09-20T00:06:58.000Z. Sources: 22. Developments: 2. Nick Daicos of the Collingwood Football Club has won the 2026 Brownlow Medal, setting a new all-time record with 47 votes. The 23-year-old, who had previously finished as the runner-up in 2024 and 2025, secured the award in his fifth AFL season. In a dominant year, Daicos also earned the AFL Players’ Association MVP and the AFL Coaches’ Association Champion Player of the Year awards. During his acceptance speech, Daicos offered a tribute to his partner, Arlette Amor, noting that her work in healthcare and her studies provide him with “essential perspective and support.” In addition to the individual playing honors, Fremantle’s Bailey Banfield received the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award for his work with the Starlight Children’s Foundation and the establishment of Freo Cares. Other notable performers included Geelong’s Bailey Smith, who finished second with 36 votes, and Western Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli in third with 34 votes. Smith drew attention for a late arrival and attire featuring branding for his own beverage company. The ceremony at the Crown Palladium was marked by the absence of several Sydney Swans players, including Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, Riley Bice, and James Jordon, who were barred from attending following club suspensions due to a “breach of standards.” Despite the absence, Heeney remained eligible for the vote and finished equal eighth. The event drew significant television interest, with Channel 7 reporting its largest Brownlow coverage in over a decade, reaching approximately 3.4 million viewers. ## Claims - Nick Daicos won the 2026 Charles Brownlow Trophy. (single source) - Nick Daicos dedicated his Brownlow Medal win to his partner, Arlette Amor. (single source) - Bailey Banfield won the 2026 Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award. (single source) - Banfield founded the player-driven initiative Freo Cares. (single source) - The annual Purple Haze game raised more than $300,000 this year. (single source) - Annalise Dalins wore jewelry valued at nearly $1 million to the Brownlow Medal. (single source) ## Timeline ### 2026-09-20: Nick Daicos wins 2026 Brownlow Medal with record 47 votes Nick Daicos set a record with 47 votes to win the 2026 Brownlow Medal, becoming the first Collingwood player to win the award since 2011. 21 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nick-daicos-emerges-as-heavy-favourite-for-afl-brownlow-medal ### 2026-09-17: Nick Daicos favored to win 2026 Brownlow Medal Collingwood's Nick Daicos is the heavy favorite to win the 2026 Brownlow Medal, with predictions suggesting he could poll between 38 and 52 votes. 6 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/nick-daicos-favored-to-win-2026-brownlow-medal --- Cite as: Nick Daicos wins 2026 Brownlow Medal with record votes. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/nick-daicos-brownlow-medal-favoritism