WESTERN Bulldog Adam Cooney has won the 2008 Brownlow Medal at a glittering ceremony at Melbourne's Crown Casino on Monday night.

It was round 21 that the 22-year-old moved past Brisbane Lion Simon Black – who had led for most of the night – to poll 24 votes and finish just one ahead of the 2002 winner.

Cooney is the first Bulldog to win the medal since Scott Wynd in 1992, capping a terrific season that mirrored the emergence of his side.

The Bulldogs finished third after the home and away season, and bowed out of the finals against Geelong on Friday night.

Cooney, the No. 1 pick of the 2003 NAB AFL Draft, played all 25 games in 2008 – taking his career total to 112 – and averaged almost 26 possessions.

He had 30 or more touches on four occasions, which spiked with 37 against the Brisbane Lions in round 12, and kicked 23 goals.

Pre-count favourite, Cat Gary Ablett, took third after finishing equal-second last year, polling 22 votes, along with Matthew Richardson of Richmond.

Richardson, 33 and in his 16th season, seemed to carry the unofficial title of people's favourite – with roars building with each of his later votes.

Then it was two ineligible players in Swan Adam Goodes (21) and Hawk Lance Franklin (20), ahead of Geelong's gun kid Joel Selwood.

Black was the leader early, racking up four best-on-ground performances in the first eight rounds, but the pack was close behind – Cooney, Richardson and Hawk Brad Sewell were all on 13.

Goodes, Franklin and Hawks skipper Sam Mitchell, also ineligible, filled the next three slots, with Ablett on eight.

By round 15, Black still led on 20, but was just one ahead of Ablett – who missed the next three rounds with an ankle injury, then Cooney and Goodes.

Richardson, on 16, was followed by Mitchell (15) and Franklin (14), then Mark McVeigh and Sewell (13).

Round 16 saw Black (23) strengthen his lead, but those were the last votes he'd receive for the night.

Richardson took three in round 17 to move to 19, along with Ablett, Cooney and Goodes.

Fremantle captain Matthew Pavlich and Mitchell had 15, Sewell and Franklin 14, while McVeigh remained on 13.

Round 20 saw Richardson and Ablett leap to 22, Black stay on 23 and Cooney hold striking range on 21.

It was then that the Dog pounced, with three votes against Essendon getting him to 24.

Black, Richardson and Ablett failed to add and, when none of the leaders polled in the last round, Charlie had gone to a Bulldog for the first time in 16 years.

On a night that also included a significant tribute to community football, outgoing St Kilda champion Robert Harvey received a stirring acknowledgment as old friends and former teammates stood in a guard of honour as he went to the stage to be interviewed by host Stephen Quartermain.

Harvey polled Brownlow votes in 20 of his 21 years in the game, and won the award in 1997 and 1998.

2008 Brownlow Medal
Leading vote-getters