Carlton's Patrick Cripps won the Brownlow Medal, polling a record 45 votes, while many fans felt that Collingwood's Nick Daicos, who finished second with 38 votes, was unfairly snubbed for the award. Daicos had enough votes to win in any other year but suffered from injuries last season, leading to widespread discussions among fans regarding the fairness of the result. Meanwhile, during the Brownlow ceremony, Channel 7 presenter Rebecca Maddern made headlines for an insensitive remark to Collingwood's Jamie Elliott, referencing a past tragedy involving former player John McCarthy, who died in Las Vegas in 2012. Maddern's comment, 'come home alive,' sparked outrage among viewers, prompting calls for an apology from the network. Elliott's awkward response highlighted the impact of the comment, as it revived painful memories for many AFL supporters. Despite the controversy, Cripps acknowledged Daicos’s impressive performance during his acceptance speech.