The Charles Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal, is awarded to the fairest and best player in the Australian Football League (AFL) during the home-and-away season, as determined by votes cast by the four officiating field umpires after each game. It is the most prestigious award for individual players in the AFL. It is also widely acknowledged as the highest individual honour in the sport of Australian rules football.
The first Brownlow Medal, awarded to Edward Greeves Jr. in 1924
Brownlow Medal votes are allocated by field umpires (pictured wearing numbered shirts).
Jobe Watson was originally declared the winner of the 2012 Brownlow Medal by polling four more votes than runners up Trent Cotchin and Sam Mitchell, however in November 2016, he was retrospectively deemed ineligible for the award, due to his part in the Essendon Football Club supplements saga, and the title was given to Cotchin and Mitchell.
Crown Casino, current home of the Brownlow Medal ceremony
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed the Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club based in Geelong, Victoria, Australia. The club competes in the Australian Football League (AFL), the sport's premier competition.
Club attire in 1895 (Jim McShane pictured)
Geelong's supporters came out in force in the 2009 Grand Final against St Kilda
Well-known supporter Troy West, nicknamed "Catman"
Geelong players prepare to break a banner, which is created by its supporters, before a match against Greater Western Sydney in June 2013.
