Club-by-club analysis, tips, favourites; Nick Daicos, Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps, Marcus Bontempelli

Brisbane Lions

Lachie Neale is the reigning Brownlow winner and is now gunning for his third medal.

The Lions star was “rattled” last year after topping the count despite most – including himself – not giving him a realistic chance. It cast the voting process into question.

Neale is a high-disposal player and again averaged 29 per game this year. The fact he is constantly under the umpires’ noses contributes to him polling well on Brownlow night, which he’s likely to do again.

If Neale takes victory, he joins an immortal Australian Rules football group, becoming just the fifth to win three Brownlows.

Only four players have achieved that before him. They are Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy), Dick Reynolds (Essendon), Bob Skilton (South Melbourne) and Ian Stewart (St Kilda and Richmond).

Hugh McCluggage is the teammate who may pinch votes off this veteran onballer.

McCluggage is a star in his own right and gets plenty of hard ball for the Lions.

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