The GIANTS’ midfield helped drive them to a semi-final this season and were rewarded at the Brownlow Medal count with career-high polling for Tim Taranto and Jacob Hopper.
It is the first time Hopper, in particular, has truly caught the eye of the umpires after collecting only five votes in total in previous years but polling in nine matches this season.
Josh Kelly equalled his second-best career count and veteran Callan Ward polled his first votes since 2018.
The skipper arrives at the Brownlow ?? pic.twitter.com/GzHkn7q4Gv
— GWS GIANTS (@GWSGIANTS) September 19, 2021
The AFL's night of night's was this year held in Perth ahead of Saturday's Grand Final, with Stephen Coniglio and Matt de Boer attending the event at Optus Stadium.
Hopper, Ward and Lachie Whitfield joined the event via Zoom with Josh Kelly joining Channel 7's coverage live from Melbourne's NEP Studios in Southbank.
Port Adelaide's Ollie Wines was crowned the 2021 Brownlow Medallist, polling 36 votes, three clear of Western Bulldogs Marcus Bontempelli (33 votes) with Melbourne's Clayton Oliver who rounded out the top three with 30 votes.
Hopper and Taranto (15 votes) finished in equal-19th position overall and polled four votes ahead of teammate Josh Kelly (11 votes).
Former co-captain Callan Ward polled his first votes since 2018, adding another eight votes to his record to move to 77 votes and extend his lead as the GIANTS' all-time overall vote getter.
2021 Rising Star nominee Tom Green (six votes) capped off his impressive season with the first Brownlow votes of his career to finish equal with Toby Greene and Whitfield.
Jeremy Finlayson and Isaac Cumming also all polled votes for the first time in their careers.
Top Five:
15 - Tim Taranto
15 - Jacob Hopper
11 - Josh Kelly
8 - Callan Ward
6 - Tom Green, Toby Greene, Lachie Whitfield
Total Votes: 71 (8th in overall votes)
