The Brownlow Medal is football’s night of nights, an evening where individual excellence is celebrated, and the outstanding on-field performer of the season is declared.

First awarded in 1924, the Charles Brownlow Medal is recognised as the most prestigious individual accolade in football, and again in 2013 it will be a host of the AFL’s elite that will go head to head to take home the coveted award.

Polling votes in itself is an honour and a number of Western Bulldogs players are expected to feature prominently, as the umpires votes are announced from each match of the 2013 home and away season.

AFL Media’s Brownlow Predictor has 12 Bulldogs players receiving votes throughout the count, with All Australian midfielder Ryan Griffen tipped to finish in equal fourth position on 22 votes.

Griffen looms as the largest threat in the final leaderboard, with a purple patch through the middle of the year cementing his All Australian selection and earning him a reputation as one of the competition's finest.

Two consecutive best on ground performances in the Bulldogs' wins against St Kilda and Port Adelaide sets him up for a strong run home – expected to poll votes in every round between 17 and 21.

Ranked second in the 2013 Charles Sutton Medal award, Tom Liberatore is a strong chance to notch his first career votes in the Brownlow Medal, in just his third AFL season.

With the potential to poll eight of a possible nine votes in the final three rounds, the competition’s leading clearance player turned heads in his breakout year.

The 21-year-old was consistently among the Bulldogs' best players and could steal further votes in rounds one (28 disposals, 11 clearances, nine tackles) or round 19 (33 disposals, 13 clearances, nine tackles, five inside 50s).

Adam Cooney’s resurgent form could also see him rank highly among the Bulldogs playing group, while Will Minson’s All Australian year in the ruck will no doubt earn him recognition from the umpires.

AFL Media also predicts six Bulldogs players will receive Brownlow votes for the first time including Liberatore, Brett Goodes (round one – ineligible due to suspension), Koby Stevens (round nine), Michael Talia (round 15), Mitch Wallis (round 19) and Tory Dickson (round 21).

The Brownlow Medal event will be held at Crown Palladium tonight, Monday 23 September 2013, with the official vote count commencing at 8:15pm.

AFL Media Predictions – Bulldogs top five

1. Ryan Griffen (Predicted 22 votes, =fourth overall)

Round one: Two votes – 27 disposals, seven marks, six tackles, six inside 50s, two goals
Round seven: Two votes – 33 disposals at 78.8% efficiency, nine clearances, nine inside 50s, one goal and three goal assists
Round nine: three votes – 30 disposals, nine clearances, 11 inside 50s, two goals and one goal assist
Round 10: three votes – 40 disposals (20 contested possessions), eight clearances, nine tackles, eight inside 50s, one goal
Round 13: two votes – 38 disposals, seven marks, six clearances, five rebound 50s and eight inside 50s
Round 17: three votes – 37 disposals, five clearances, five inside 50s, two goals and two goal assists
Round 18: one vote – 30 disposals (76.7% efficiency), five marks, seven clearances and six tackles
Round 19: two votes – 41 disposals, ten clearances, six tackles, five bounces and six inside 50s
Round 20: three votes – 34 disposals, seven clearances, seven tackles, eight inside 50s and a goal assist
Round 21: one vote – 26 disposals, five marks, four clearances, six inside 50s and a goal assist

2. Tom Liberatore (Predicted 14 votes)

Round two: one vote – 28 disposals (78.6% efficiency), 12 clearances and 11 tackles
Round ten: one vote – 35 disposals (24 contested possessions), 13 clearances, five rebound 50s, four tackles and one goal assist
Round 14: three votes – 36 disposals (77.8% efficiency), six marks, 12 clearances, nine tackles, 11 inside 50s and two goal assists
Round 16: one vote – 33 disposals, (78.8% efficiency), 18 contested possessions, 11 clearances, six tackles, six inside 50s and a goal
Round 21: three votes – 30 disposals (80% efficiency), eight clearances, five rebound 50s, five tackles and four inside 50s
Round 22: two votes – 27 disposals (81.5% efficiency), 18 contested possessions, 14 clearances, six tackles and six inside 50s
Round 23: three votes – 36 disposals, 20 contested possessions,12 clearances, 11 tackles, four inside 50s, a goal and a goal assist

3. Adam Cooney (Predicted eight votes)

Round four: two votes – 30 disposals, ten clearances, four tackles, four inside 50s, two goals and a goal assist
Round 15: two votes – 26 disposals, 12 contested possessions and six clearances,
Round 18: three votes – 30 disposals (76.7% efficiency), five clearances, three rebound 50s, three inside 50s and a goal
Round 20: one vote – 31 disposals, four clearances, three rebound 50s, three inside 50s, one goal, two behinds and a goal assist

4. Robert Murphy (Predicted four votes)

Round one: one vote – 16 disposals (75% efficiency), six marks, five inside 50s, two goals and two goal assists
Round 18: two votes – 29 disposals (86.2% efficiency), six rebound 50s, seven one percenters and a goal
Round 20: one vote – 27 disposals (85.2% efficiency), four marks, four rebound 50s and two inside 50s

5. Michael Talia (Predicted three votes)

Round 15: 32 disposals (78.1% efficiency), five marks, five one percenters and two inside 50s

5. Brett Goodes (predicted three votes)

Round one: 24 disposals (87.4% efficiency), seven marks, six rebound 50s, two inside 50s and two tackles