HE CAME in as the raging hot favourite, and Patrick Dangerfield's Brownlow Medal win was pretty comfortable in the end.

Dangerfield's 35 votes was a record, and even though Sydney Swan Luke Parker (26) and Richmond's Dustin Martin (25) were mathematical chances to upset him with two rounds remaining, 'Charlie' was never headed anywhere else.

It capped an almost flawless first season in Geelong colours for the 26-year-old midfielder. 

He swapped the lead with Parker during the first half of the count, but following a career night against North Melbourne in round 12, Dangerfield was never headed again. 

Parker started quickly, with 10 votes in the first five rounds, while Martin was the opposite, picking up just one vote in his first seven matches before storming home.

Ineligible Rory Sloane (24) flirted with the top three, while Parker's teammate Dan Hannebery (21) also had his name in lights for much of the night.

Round one
No surprises as Dangerfield gets off to the perfect start with a three-voter for his remarkable 43-disposal Geelong debut against Hawthorn. Parker also, as expected, gets the three for his 40 touches against Collingwood. 

Round three
Parker continues his fast start with two votes for his 30 disposals against GWS. Gold Coast midfielder Aaron Hall becomes just the third player in history – alongside Gary Ablett and Paul Salmon – to start with three best on grounds. 

Round five
While Dangerfield keeps his votes coming with another two against Port Adelaide, Parker (10) takes the lead with another two against the Eagles.

Round seven
Back-to-back three-voters – for 30 touches and two goals against Gold Coast and 26 disposals against West Coast – gives Dangerfield his first lead of the count. He has 14 votes, one clear of Parker. 

Round nine
Parker keeps the seesaw going with another two votes against Hawthorn taking him back to the lead. Teammate Dan Hannebery quietly moves to 11 votes – four behind – while 2014 winner Matt Priddis (10) also sneaks into the top five on the back of three and two-vote performances.

Round 12
No surprises that Dangerfield reclaims the lead here. He has a career-high 48 disposals and kicks two goals in a win over North Melbourne to grab the three votes and jump to 17, two clear of Parker and another back to Hannebery. Just over halfway and it seems a three-horse race.

Round 13
Parker picks up a surprise three votes for his 23 disposals, with 17 tackles, in a Swans win in the wet over Melbourne. Danger keeps the lead with three votes of his own for 37 touches and two goals against the Bulldogs. These two are clearing out. 

Round 15
We're tied again. Parker could be considered a little unlucky to get just two votes for 34 touches, 10 tackles and three goals in a narrow loss to the Bulldogs, but Lance Franklin's 21 touches and 5.4 pipped him for the three votes. Ineligible Rory Sloane (15) moves into third place, five behind the leaders. 

Round 17
Dangerfield finally gets some breathing space, polling one vote against the Swans in round 16 and backing up with another three votes for 31 touches and four goals against the Dockers in round 17. He is four votes clear of Parker, and five clear of Martin who has flown into frame.

Round 19
Danger is all-but home after another three votes against the Western Bulldogs. He now has 28 votes and is eight clear of Martin and Parker with four rounds remaining.

Round 21
Is there a twist in the tail? Parker goes back-to-back with three voters and moves to 26, within four of Dangerfield with two rounds remaining. Martin is also still a mathematical chance, with his 36 touches against the Cats earning him three votes despite the Tigers' final quarter capitulation to lose.

Round 22
Dangerfield wins. Despite his off day with the boot (2.4) against the Lions, the Geelong champion earns two votes, and when Parker and Martin fail to vote, he's home and hosed.