Sunday night saw the 2021 Brownlow Medal awarded in Perth for the first time, with the SUNS attending a function alongside the Brisbane Lions at the Gabba in Brisbane.
Port Adelaide’s Ollie Wines claimed the ultimate honour, winning the count with 36 votes ahead of Marcus Bontempelli (33) and Clayton Oliver (31).
Gold Coast Club Champion Touk Miller dominated the vote count for the SUNS, polling 17 votes, including five best-on-ground performances.
He finished the night six votes outside the top 10.
The result is Gold Coast’s best result in the Brownlow Medal since Gary Ablett’s 2nd place finish with 22 votes in 2014.
A surprise packet on the night was young gun Noah Anderson, who leapt out of the blocks early with seven votes in the first six rounds, including best-on-ground performances in the Round 2 and 6 victories.
It was Anderson’s first time polling Brownlow Medal votes, as the 20-year-old finished the night with eight votes.
Also polling their first career votes were Charlie Ballard, Sam Collins, Josh Corbett and Jeremy Sharp.
SUNS Final Leaderboard:
17 – Touk Miller
8 – Noah Anderson
5 – Brandon Ellis
3 – Charlie Ballard
3 – Ben King
2 – Jack Lukosius
2 – Brayden Fiorini
2 – Sam Collins
1 – Josh Corbett
1 – Jeremy Sharp
Total votes: 44
All the votes:
Round 1 – West Coast (83) def. Gold Coast (58)
3 – O. Allen (WC)
2 – D. Sheed (WC)
1 – T. Barrass (WC)
Round 2 – Gold Coast (98) def. North Melbourne (39)
3 – N. Anderson (GC)
2 – B. Ellis (GC)
1 – T. Miller (GC)
Round 3 – Adelaide (95) def. Gold Coast (85)
3 – T. Walker (ADE)
2 – B. Smith (ADE)
1 – R. Sloane (ADE)
Round 4 – Carlton (70) def. Gold Coast (59)
3 – S. Walsh (CARL)
2 – S. Docherty (CARL)
1 – N. Anderson (GC)
Round 5 – Western Bulldogs (118) def. Gold Coast (56)
3 – M. Bontempelli (WC)
2 – J. Dunkley (WC)
1 – A. Treloar (WC)
Round 6 – Gold Coast (100) def. Sydney (60)
3 – N. Anderson (GC)
2 – B. King (GC)
1 – J. Kennedy (SYD)
Round 7 – Gold Coast (79) def. Collingwood (55)
3 – T. Miller (GC)
2 – B. Ellis (GC)
1 – J. Corbett (GC)
Round 8 – St Kilda (63) def. Gold Coast (54)
3 – J. Steele (STK)
2 – J. Billings (STK)
1 – T. Miller (GC)
Round 9 – Brisbane (124) def. Gold Coast (51)
3 – J. Lyons (BL)
2 – D. McStay (BL)
1 – D. Zorko (BL)
Round 10 – Geelong (91) def. Gold Coast (57)
3 – J. Selwood (GEE)
2 – Q. Narkle (GEE)
1 – S. Higgins (GEE)
Round 11 – Gold Coast (113) def. Hawthorn (76)
3 – T. Miller (GC)
2 – J. Lukosius (GC)
1 – B. Ellis (GC)
Round 12 - BYE
Round 13 – Fremantle (76) def. Gold Coast (49)
3 – S. Darcy (FRE)
2 – A. Brayshaw (FRE)
1 – D. Mundy (FRE)
Round 14 – Port Adelaide (81) def. Gold Coast (31)
3 – O. Wines (PA)
2 – K. Amon (PA)
1 – D. Houston (PA)
Round 15 – North Melbourne (72) def. Gold Coast (63)
3 – B. Cunnington (NM)
2 – T. Goldstein (NM)
1 – L. Davies-Uniacke (NM)
Round 16 – Gold Coast (77) def. Richmond (67)
3 – T. Miller (GC)
2 – C. Ballard (GC)
1 – B. King (GC)
Round 17 – Gold Coast (65) def. GWS (64)
3 – T. Miller (GC)
2 – J. Hopper (GWS)
1 – C. Ballard (GC)
Round 18 – Western Bulldogs (90) def. Gold Coast (79)
3 – M. Bontempelli (WB)
2 – B. Smith (WB)
1 – J. Sharp (GC)
Round 19 – Brisbane Lions (120) def. Gold Coast (71)
3 – J. Lyons (BL)
2 – B. Fiorini (GC)
1 – O. McInerney (BL)
Round 20 – Melbourne (128) def. Gold Coast (30)
3 – C. Petracca (MEL)
2 – M. Gawn (MEL)
1 – C. Oliver (MEL)
Round 21 – Gold Coast (76) def. Carlton (57)
3 – T. Miller (GC)
2 – S. Collins (GC)
1 – N. Anderson (GC)
Round 22 – Essendon (98) def. Gold Coast (30)
3 – J. Stringer (ESS)
2 – D. Parish (ESS)
1 – S. Draper (ESS)
Round 23 – Sydney (136) def. Gold Coast (49)
3 – J. Dawson (SYD)
2 – J. Lloyd (SYD)
1 – L. Franklin (SYD)
