PATRICK Cripps has made history tonight, becoming the first to win two Brownlow Medals as a Carlton player, after polling a record 45 votes to be to be awarded the AFL’s highest individual honour.
In one of the most highly-anticipated counts in history, Cripps won the 2024 Brownlow Medal ahead of Nick Daicos (38 votes) and Zak Butters (29 votes).
Cripps put forward the most dominant vote count in the history of the Brownlow’s 3-2-1 system, polling a remarkable 12
3-vote games, more than half the games he played in 2024, and earning votes in 17 of a possible 24 matches.
Coming off a season in which he earned a fourth All-Australian blazer, Cripps joins very esteemed company, becoming one of only 17 players to have won the Brownlow Medal multiple times.
The 29-year-old also now joins Carlton Hall of Famers Chris Judd and Greg Williams as one of only three Carlton players to have won the award twice, and the only Carlton player to win both medals whilst playing at the Blues.
Tonight’s accolade tops off an outstanding season for Cripps, who was one of only three Blues to play every game in 2024, averaging 28.8 disposals, 15.7 contested possessions, 8.1 clearances and kicking 17 goals.
Integral to the Blues midfield, the Carlton captain was ranked No.1 in the AFL for total clearances, centre clearances and contested possessions, No.2 in total handballs and stoppage clearances and inside the top 10 for total disposals.
AFL Senior Coach - and fellow Brownlow Medallist - Michael Voss congratulated Cripps on a very deserving win, placing himself among the game’s all-time greats.
“I speak on behalf of the entire Carlton Football Club when I say how proud we are of Patrick and deservingly etching his name further among the greatest players this game has seen,” Voss said.
“Tonight, he makes history, as the first to win the Brownlow Medal twice as a Carlton player, an incredible achievement that creates his own unique chapter in the history of our football club.
“Patrick has had a remarkable season. A first-class player and even more impressive leader, he always has a team-first approach, someone who always has the mindset of how to make the playing group better.
“Whilst many get to see the incredible work he does on the field, as a coach, his most impressive quality is the hard work he puts into others, the dedication and time he takes with his teammates, the guidance he provides to our emerging leaders – all dedicated towards his driving ambition of earning team success.
“We are so lucky to have a person with such outstanding character at our Club and couldn’t be happier for him to be awarded this honour not once but twice.”
