‘Contingency plan’ revealed for Heeney shock as Pies star eyes breakthrough — Brownlow LIVE

Collingwood superstar Nick Daicos has been heavily backed to finally breakthrough and claim his maiden Brownlow Medal at Monday night's count at Crown Palladium.

The AFL's best and fairest player for the 2026 season will be crowned on Monday night at the traditional Brownlow Medal count.

Watch all the build-up to the 2026 AFL Grand Final, with expert analysis and full Grand Final day coverage plus exclusive commentary on the replay, on Fox Footy via Kayo | New to Kayo? Join now and get your first month for just $1.

BROWNLOW TRACKER LIVE: Every vote from every game

Daicos enters the count as an astonishingly short $1.02 favourite to win the 2026 Brownlow Medal. He's gone into the past three counts as the predicted winner - and still polled an ridiculous 98 votes across the three years - but was pipped by Lachie Neale, Patrick Cripps and Matt Rowell respectively.

The only three other players better than $101 to win the Brownlow this year are Bulldogs captain Marcus Bontempelli ($41), Geelong star Bailey Smith ($51) and Cripps ($67).

Players from the Dockers and Lions invited to the count will remain in Perth and Brisbane respectively as they prepare for Saturday's AFL Grand Final.

The other 16 clubs will be present at Crown Palladium, including the Sydney Swans, who'll be represented by Charlie Curnow, Dane Rampe, Brodie Grundy, Logan McDonald and Tom McCartin.

MORE BROWNLOW MEDAL

ULTIMATE GUIDE: Everything you need to know about the 2026 count

ANALYSIS: Nick Daicos' staggering 50-vote reality... and how he could still lose

ROUND-BY-ROUND: Monster cheat sheet for the EIGHT players who should poll best

WHAT TIME DOES IT START? All the relevant times you need to know

The five players suspended by the Swans - Isaac Heeney, Chad Warner, Nick Blakey, James Jordon and Riley Bice - for breaching club behavioural standards at the Pullman East Melbourne last night remain eligible to win the award, but the AFL didn't invite any of them to the night.

Heeney, a triple All-Australian, is expected to be one of Sydney's best pollers on Monday night. Four-time Port Adelaide best and fairest winner Kane Cornes revealed on SEN's Fireball the Swans had a contingency plan if Heeney ended up winning the medal.

"I can tell you that (Swans chief executive) Matthew Pavlich will accept Heeney's Brownlow Medal tonight, and Matthew Pavlich will also read out the speech should - and it's very unlikely - Isaac Heeney be the Brownlow Medallist," Cornes said on Monday morning.

The Brownlow Medal count broadcast begins on Channel 7 at 8pm (AEST), with the winner expected to be announced around 10.10pm (AEST).

Both the Goal of the Year and Mark of the Year winners will be revealed on Brownlow Medal night, at approximately 9pm and 8.35pm respectively.

Follow live coverage of the 2026 Brownlow Medal in our live blog below!

If you can't see the blog, tap here.