Daicos breaks through for first Brownlow and saves first signature for Logan

Collingwood midfielder Nick Daicos has won his first Brownlow Medal with a record 47 votes.

The 23-year-old finally broke through after three near misses in previous counts, polling the highest total in the award's history to claim the 2026 honour, as reported by the ABC. The AFL confirmed three records fell on the night in a result it billed as fourth-time lucky for the Magpies star.

The Brownlow is the AFL's best-and-fairest award. Umpires vote 3-2-1 after every home-and-away game, and the player with the most votes wins.

Sydney midfielder Isaac Heeney was among those who fell short in the race behind Daicos, according to the ABC. Daicos had built his charge across the season before the count closed it out.

But the biggest moment of his night belonged to someone else. Daicos shared the spotlight with Logan, a six-year-old from Warragul who calls the Collingwood star his best mate.

Logan was diagnosed with neuroblastoma, a rare childhood cancer, when he was one. He watched the count from home in Warragul with his family, including his father Shane Goldfinch.

The pair were introduced through a Make-A-Wish experience and stayed close. They now send each other video messages every week.

Daicos previously arranged for Logan to run through the banner with him for his 100th game. On Brownlow night he kept another promise.

While on stage, Daicos signed a copy of the Herald Sun to send to Logan. It was his first signature as a Brownlow medallist, dedicated to the six-year-old.

The Monday morning edition he signed had called his win "inevitable", Nine reported. Daicos put pen to it during his acceptance speech and set it aside for his young friend.

What makes this stand out is how simple it was. No speech break. No fuss. Just a signature in the middle of football's biggest individual honour, kept for a kid in Warragul.