Ollie Wines became the second Bendigo Pioneers product and first Port Adelaide player to win the AFL's Brownlow Medal after a thrilling count on Sunday night.
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Wines polled 36 votes to edge out Western Bulldogs skipper Marcus Bontempelli by three votes.
Melbourne's Clayton Oliver was third on 31 votes, while Carlton's Sam Walsh was fourth on 30 votes.
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Wines' tally of 36 votes equalled the record for most votes in a count, which was set by another former Bendigo Pioneers great in Dustin Martin 2017.
"I'm a little bit ratted to be honest,'' Wines told Channel 7 after being presented the Brownlow Medal by two-time winner Nathan Fyfe
"I imagined I'd be up around the mark, but there were so many guys that had great years.
"I think more than anything this is a football club award. It doesn't take an individual, it takes a team a football club, not just a football department, the admin staff, to get someone to this point.
"Our year didn't finish as we wanted it to, but we had a really good year... there's a bit to take out of it, but obviously we're not satisfied."
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Wines trailed Bontempelli for much of the count, but stormed home with a remarkable finish to the season.
Wines polled in 11 of the final 12 rounds and moved into a tie with Bontempelli with two rounds remaining.
He gained one vote in the Power's round 22 win to take the lead before sealing the Medal with two votes in the round 23 victory over Bontempelli's Bulldogs.
Wines polled in 16 of the 23 rounds - a new AFL record.
Wines paid tribute to his close-knit family who have been his biggest supporters.
"They've been able to get through the last 18 months in Victoria, particularly, from football,'' he said.
"This (award) is a credit to them and their commitment to me. It's a privlege to win it in their honour."
Selected by the Power with pick seven in the 2012 National Draft, Wines has played 182 AFL games.
"I didn't expect to go to Port Adelaide or go interstate from Victoria, I am a very home-orientated person and I had a really good upbringing with my family and I was a little bit shocked to go to Port Adelaide," Wines said.
"There was a few tears from mum and dad and myself on the night, but it has only strengthened me to become the person I am today and to be honest it is the best decision the club could have made for me.
"Us as a human rather than a footballer is what is most important and I think that (move) helped develop me into the man I am today and I am very proud of that."
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