THE NIGHT was billed as a Dustin Martin procession, and although ultimately the Richmond superstar was a comfortable Brownlow Medal winner, it didn't come without some drama.
Martin recorded both a record number of votes (36) and best on grounds (11) to charge away from Hawk Tom Mitchell (25) and Sydney pair Josh Kennedy (23) and Lance Franklin (22).
But the man the won last year's Brownlow, Patrick Dangerfield, threatened to make the night terribly awkward.
Dangerfield was ineligible to win the award after copping a one-game suspension in round 19, but led the count with just two rounds remaining.
He looked like joining North Melbourne's Corey McKernan (1996) and Western Bulldog Chris Grant (1997) as an ineligible 'winner'.
But Martin polled three votes in round 22 and 23 against Fremantle and St Kilda to win by three and spare Dangerfield (33 votes) the agony of joining the unwanted list.
Giant Josh Kelly (21) and Crow Rory Sloane (20) also topped 20 votes, but after some early jockeying from other contenders, the night was really a heavyweight showdown between the game's two best players.
There's no doubt about the game's No.1 player in 2017. Picture: AFL Photos
Round one
It was no surprise that Martin got off to the perfect start. His 33 disposals and season-high four goals against Carlton was a guaranteed three votes. He wasn't the only big name off to a quick start with Franklin (in a loss to Port Adelaide), Joel Selwood and Scott Pendlebury all polling the maximum.
Round three
The big guns flexed their muscles early and moved to the top of the leaderboard. We had a four-way tie on six votes – Selwood, Dangerfield, Martin and Sloane. Selwood pinched the three from Dangerfield's two in Geelong's final-quarter avalanche to get over Melbourne. Martin grabbed three votes for 40 touches and two goals in a tight win over West Coast, while Sloane added three in a Showdown win over Port.
Round six
In the only game between grand finalists Adelaide and Richmond during the home and away season, the Crows won easily and Sloane polled three votes. His 33 disposals and three goals was the fifth straight game he'd polled in and gave him a three-vote lead in the count. Two-time winner Gary Ablett also earned three votes in this round - despite his team's loss against North Melbourne - with 45 touches and 18 clearances.
Round 10
For the first time since round three, 'Dusty' moved back to the lead – alongside Sloane. The Tiger's 30 and one goal in the 'Dreamtime at the 'G' win over Essendon secured three votes and pushed him to 14 overall. Sloane chipped away with another two, but it was just about the end of his serious challenge for the night.
Round 11
Three best-ons in succession and Martin now had sole possession of the lead with 17 votes, three clear of his nearest rivals. He kicked two goals to go with 38 disposals against the Kangas this time. Dangerfield polled two more votes and Magpies skipper Pendlebury joined him on 14 votes with another three against Fremantle, making it eight votes from his previous three outings. He brought out the 'three goggles' to celebrate.
Round 14
Uh, oh – Dangerfield has taken the lead. The Cats superstar polled three votes in his team's narrow win over Fremantle and it helped him leapfrog Martin to sit on top. He had 19 votes to Martin's 18. A long way to go, but there was an uneasy feeling with what might happen. Was Dangerfield going to poll the most votes and be ineligible to win?
Round 16
Now it got really awkward. 'Danger' polled another three (as he did in round 15) for his 38 disposals and three goals against the Brisbane Lions to lead Martin by four votes. Mitchell was surging into the minor places with another three votes, but all anyone cared about were the two heavyweights.
Round 17
Dangerfield made it 22 votes from his previous eight games with yet another three against Hawthorn. Who will forget his haul of 5.6 at the MCG, virtually on one leg? Martin kept the gap at four votes with his 40 touches, 14 clearances and two goals against the Lions.
Round 19
Martin regained the lead. Phew. He had 30 votes to Dangerfield's 28 after a best-on-ground performance against hapless Gold Coast. This was also the round Dangerfield got suspended for his sling tackle on Matthew Kreuzer. It not only cost him playing in round 20, but any chance of making it back-to-back Brownlows.
Round 21
After missing the previous week, Dangerfield hit the lead again – ironically with three votes against Richmond. Martin missed the votes altogether as the Cats won and Dangerfield took a lead of one into the final two rounds. This was like two racehorses bobbing heads in the final 100m searching for the finish line.
Round 22 & 23
Martin goes back to the front with 36 and two goals against Fremantle – another three votes. He'd also get three in the final round against St Kilda and run out a deserving winner. Although Dangerfield couldn't win, the duel between the pair will be long remembered.
