Matt Priddis seals the Brownlow Medal in round 23, with a total of 26 votes.
Matt Priddis and the Brownlow Medal. Source: Getty Images
A DECADE after being overlooked in four drafts, West Coast midfielder Matt Priddis has won the 2014 Brownlow Medallist.
Priddis slowly worked his way up the leaderboard as the focus remained on runaway leader Gary Ablett and his pursuers, led by Geelong captain Joel Selwood and Sydney onballer Josh Kennedy.
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The first former rookie to win the medal polled 26 votes, one ahead of ineligible Docker Nat Fyfe. He was a notable omission from this year's All-Australian team after making the 40-player long list.
The curly-haired midfielder, a former surf lifesaver, found himself in the lead - due to Fyfe's ineligibility - with three rounds to go after four best-on-ground performances and votes in 13 games.
Matt Priddis drinks to his surprise Brownlow win. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
The AFL was privately delighted when Priddis grabbed two votes in the final-round victory over Gold Coast to edge past ineligible fellow West Australian Fyfe.
Priddis said playing with fellow Brownlow medallists Chris Judd and Ben Cousins had been a great apprenticeship.
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"I was overlooked in four national drafts and the Subiaco Football Club and Peter German were massive in my development," he said.
"They just told me to play to my strengths and that's all I've really tried to do. I can't thank them enough for giving me a start.
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"I was never going to give up because it was my childhood dream. I grew up like every young kid kicking the footy and going to the park with my brother and my old man and it was always my childhood dream.
"I was never going to give up, I just wanted to play at the highest level possible, if that was going to be at Subiaco I was OK with that. West Coast helped me realise a childhood dream and I couldn't thank them enough for that.
He thanked his wife Ashleigh, who is pregnant with their second child and did not travel to Melbourne.
"It's a shame she can't be here tonight, she's suffering from pretty bad morning sickness," he said.
Gary Ablett hangs the Brownlow Medal around Matt Priddis's neck. Picture: Michael Klein Source: News Corp Australia
"She's 23 weeks pregnant and we've got a two-year-old daughter Nala. They bring me so much joy.
"I think my two best years of footy have been since the birth of my first child. It just gives you great balance ... I've been with Ashleigh for 12 years and she understands the demands of AFL footy and I love her so much. She's the best.
The 29-year-old's steady vote gathering gained momentum in the back-end of the season, despite the Eagles' sporadic form.
Swans ace Lance Franklin was equal second with two-time winner Ablett on 22 votes.
Joel Selwood just misses out on the Brownlow Medal. Picture: Wayne Ludbey Source: News Corp Australia
It was the most votes polled by a Coleman Medallist, but Franklin knew he would fall just short after sitting out the last home-and-away game.
Priddis said he had been consistent through the year.
"I've got a pretty simple role, and being an inside mid you get to control your performances a little bit more than half-forwards or wingers so I'm pretty lucky in that regard," he said.
Priddis was taken in the rookie draft in 2006 after winning that year's Sandover Medal in the WAFL.
In a remarkable first season with the Swans, Franklin has kicked 67 goals from 19 home-and-away games, silencing the critics who had earlier suggested his recruitment from Hawthorn threatened to harm Sydney's culture.
Now, as a Coleman Medal winner, and with second in the Brownlow, Franklin is a serious chance to win a third premiership medal - and his first with the Swans in his maiden season at the club.
The AFL had flown two medals to Sydney with Franklin and Josh Kennedy considered chances to take home the medal, and both were in the mix for most of the evening.
Kennedy was stiff, too, having suffered hamstring tightness in Round 21, which saw him miss the final two games of the season.
LEADERBOARD
26 Matt Priddis (West Coast)
25 Nathan Fyfe* (Fremantle)
22 Gary Ablett (Gold Coast)
22 Lance Franklin (Sydney)
21 Joel Selwood (Geelong)
21 Josh Kennedy (Sydney)
21 Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
21 Patrick Dangerfield (Adelaide)
Recap the thrilling count in our live blog below.
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