Neale claims 2024 Gary Ayres Medal after dominant Grand Final performance

Brisbane’s Lachie Neale has claimed the 2024 Gary Ayres Medal, coming from behind to beat Sydney’s Isaac Heeney as player of the finals series.

Neale played four finals during Brisbane’s September campaign that culminated in the Grand Final win over the Swans on Saturday.

Votes for the medal are issued after each game by the respective coaches of the competing clubs in the same fashion as the AFLCA Champion Player award during the home and away season.

Neale finished with 26.5 votes and polled votes in the Elimination Final, Preliminary Final and Grand Final.

While Grand Final performances receive a 1.5x boost, Neale would have claimed the award if votes in the decider were weighted the same as the rest of the finals series.

Norm Smith Medallist Will Ashcroft came from the clouds to snag third place given he, alongside Neale, was awarded 13.5 votes for their efforts on Saturday.

See the top five below

Lachie Neale – Brisbane (26.5 votes) 
Isaac Heeney – Sydney (20) 
Will Ashcroft - Brisbane (18.5) 
Jai Newcombe - Hawthorn (17) 
Dayne Zorko - Brisbane (15) 

Grand Final votes

Will Ashcroft (13.5 votes)   
Lachie Neale (13.5) 
Callum Ah Chee (7.5) 
Kai Lohmann (6) 
Brandon Starcevich (3) 
Joe Daniher (1.5)