Sydney Swans midfielder Luke Parker has finished runner up in the 2016 Brownlow Medal behind Geelong star Patrick Dangerfield.
Parker finished the count with 26 votes behind Dangerfield who polled a record breaking 35 votes.
Dangerfield also polled nine three-voters to equal Greg Williams' record and was in the votes in 15 games to set a new mark.
Parker finished second on 26 votes, while Richmond midfielder Dustin Martin rounded out the top three with 25.
Ineligible Crow Rory Sloane polled 24, while Eagle Andrew Gaff, Swan Dan Hannebery and Pie Adam Treloar tied in fifth place with 21.
Parker was the early bolter, racing to the lead with 13 votes after six rounds and giving the assembled Swans at a function at the SCG reason to cheer.
Dangerfield hit the front for the first time in round seven, polling three votes to take his tally to 14, but consecutive voteless games saw Parker regain the lead on 15 votes in round nine as the pair jostled.
After round 11, Swans midfielder Dan Hannebery moved into equal second with Dangerfield on 14 votes, with the Geelong superstar going four straight matches without polling.
He was back on the board – and back in the lead – with three votes in round 12 for the best game of his season, amassing 48 possessions, 13 clearances, 11 inside 50s and two goals against North Melbourne.
Parker proved hard to shake, however, and the pair was tied on 20 votes at the end of the bye rounds in round 15, setting up a showdown in the last eight weeks of the season.
Brownlow top 10
35 - Patrick Dangerfield (Geel)
26 - Luke Parker (Syd)
25 - Dustin Martin (Rich)
24* - Rory Sloane (Adel)
21 - Andrew Gaff (WCE)
21 - Dan Hannebery (Syd)
21 - Adam Treloar (Coll)
20 - Marcus Bontempelli (WB)
20 - Lachie Neale (Frem)
19 - Robbie Gray (PA)
19 - Zach Merrett (Ess)
19 - Nick Riewoldt (StK)
