.png)
Brisbane Lions midfielder Lachie Neale has won the 2020 Brownlow Medal, winning by an extraordinary 10 votes on Sunday night.
The former Fremantle Docker polled 31 votes in what was a 17 game season to win by ten votes from Port Adelaide midfielder Travis Boak, eleven votes clear of Saints star Jack Steele and Melbourne midfield bull Christian Petracca.
Neale averaged 27 disposals in the home and away season, recording 30 disposals or more six times as well as kicking 11 goals for the 2020 campaign.
Neale was taken with pick 58 in the 2011 AFL Draft by Fremantle, recruited from country South Australia.
Substitute in the club's maiden Grand Final appearance in 2013, Neale would go on to become a star of the Dockers midfield, winning two Doig Medals as Fremantle's fairest and best player in 2016 and 2018.
He sensationally walked out on the club after 135 games at the end of the 2018 season, requesting a trade to Brisbane who were coming off a five win season.
He quickly elevated his game at the Lions, winning their best and fairest last season as the Lions returned to finals for the first time in a decade.
The 27 year old set up his Brownlow triumph immediately following the three month COVID-19 lay-off, polling four best on ground three vote performances in succession from rounds 2-5.
Neale's effort of 31 votes in 17 games, a return of 1.82 votes per game is also the most votes-per-game in Brownlow Medal history.
He becomes Brisbane's first Brownlow Medallist since Simon Black in 2002 and fourth overall, after Michael Voss (1996), Jason Akermanis (2001) and Black.
West Coast midfielders Tim Kelly and Dom Sheed (11 votes) were best placed of the Eagles, while dual Brownlow Medal winner Nat Fyfe finished atop the Dockers leaderboard with 10 votes.
IMAGE: Herald Sun.