Melbourne Demons midfielder Angus Brayshaw is the new cult hero of the AFL following his unexpected third place finish at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night.
The 22-year-old didn’t manage to score an invite to the ritzy event at Crown Casino, with five of his teammates instead attending the black tie function.
Brayshaw watched the action unfold from his couch, dressed casually in a t-shirt, and managed to poll 21 votes, seven behind eventual winner, Hawthorn’s Tom Mitchell.
Melbourne Demons midfielder Angus Brayshaw (pictured at home) kissing his fake Brownlow Medal – he finished third in the standings, but missed out on an invitation to the gala event
Angus Brayshaw (pictured centre) is the new cult hero of the AFL following his unexpected third place finish at the Brownlow Medal on Monday night
Seeing the funny side of the situation, Brayshaw posted an image of himself kissing a fake medal from his lounge room.
‘Thanks AFL for mailing me my third-place Brownlow — big night for me, wearing a … t-shirt,’ he wrote.
‘Thanks for the support.’
A top three finish in the Brownlow Medal standings capped off a remarkable season for Brayshaw.
He began the year playing in the second-tier Victorian Football League (VFL) before two best on ground performances a few weeks out from the finals for the Demons.
Angus Brayshaw didn’t score an invite to the Brownlow Medal, but finished third in votes
Brayshaw has overcome significant concussion setbacks before enjoying a breakout campaign this year.
In 2016, his career was effectively on hold after suffering his fourth concussion in the space of 12 months.
He now wears a protective helmet and recently inked a four-year contract extension with the Demons.
Hawthorn coach Alastair Clarkson also provided a talking point at AFL’s night of nights on Monday, caught napping live on television during Tom Mitchell’s acceptance speech.
The moment wasn’t lost on Mitchell, or the capacity filled room.
‘Clarko seems pretty interested. That’s the last time I’m going to give him a mention,’ he quipped.
Brayshaw (pictured right, with Melbourne teammates Aaron Van Den Berg and Josh Wagner) began the year playing in the second-tier league before being pulled up to the AFL