West Coast’s Matt Priddis has won the AFL’s highest individual accolade.
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West Coast Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis has stunned by the AFL world by taking out the 2014 Brownlow Medal.
The 29-year-old only made his AFL debut in 2006 after being overlooked in the draft four times.
Priddis had never previously been in contention for the prestigious award, but he polled consistently and a three-vote performance against Collingwood in round 20 pushed him to a winning score of 26 votes.
“I’m a pretty shy kinda guy, I don’t see myself in the likes of Brownlow Medallists in the past,” Priddis told Channel Seven shortly after winning the award.
“I don’t really know what to say.
“I was never going to give up, it was a childhood dream. I always wanted to play at the highest possible level.
“Luckily, West Coast helped me realise that dream.”
Last year’s winner Gary Ablett fell just short of an incredible win, with the Suns star on track to win his third Brownlow after an excellent start to the season, until he dislocated his shoulder in round 16 and played no further part.
In what was a tight vote count, Priddis held a two vote lead over the injured Ablett, while Port Adelaide’s Travis Boak and the Crows’ Patrick Dangerfield the only ones who could match his score.
Neither Boak or Dangerfield any votes, while Priddis picked up two to win the medal outright.
Priddis finished on 26 votes, four clear of Ablett and Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin.
Fremantle’s Nat Fyfe led the count with a round to go, but finished one vote back on 25.
The Dockers midfielder was ineligible to win the award after being suspended twice during the season.
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