A hefty run of late season votes has delivered Nasiah Wanganeen-Milera an equal-ninth finish in the AFL's Brownlow Medal, but not without what might have been the biggest controversy of the night.

On an evening where Suns midfielder Matt Rowell dominated to take home the AFL's highest individual honour, Wanganeen-Milera collected 23 votes from the umpires across 2025, highlighted by four-straight performances which received twos and threes between rounds 20-23.

Within that came his heroics in the competition's largest-ever fourth quarter comeback against Melbourne in 20, which erupted the room of star players, administrators and guests when the match tally was read out.

Wanganeen-Milera was pipped by Demons midfielder Jack Viney for best-on-ground in the contest.

At the three-quarter time in the match St Kilda trailed by 46 points, with Wanganeen-Milera having already kicked two majors and collected plenty of the football around the ground.

That was before flying above the pack to pluck a hanger and claw his side back even on the scoreboard in the dying moments, and then, aided by a Melbourne error at the restart, sprinting inside fifty to mark and have a chance at lifting the Saints to a historic win.

The then-unsigned gun slotted the match-winning opportunity after the siren to deliver the biggest comeback in league history.

Wanganeen-Milera finished with 34 disposals, six clearances, 4.1 in front of goals and 749 metres gained - more that 200 metres ahead of the next best on the ground.

Viney, by contrast, had 23 touches and 1.1 in a match that delivered him the three votes.

Even Melbourne's table couldn't hold back their disbelief.

WHAT??!!?!??!??#Brownlow pic.twitter.com/ikMQiOvYwL

— 7AFL (@7AFL) September 22, 2025

Wanganeen-Milera went on to take seven votes from the following three games - three against North Melbourne, two against the Tigers and two against the Bombers in consecutive Saints wins.

He'd earlier nabbed the maximum in a five goal win over the Demons in Round 12, and a 20 point loss to Hawthorn in Round 17.

It was still Wanganeen-Milera's best showing on Brownlow night after polling eight votes in 2024, and four in 2023.

Monday night saw Matt Rowell (37 votes) crowned Brownlow medallist for the first time in his career. The 24-year-old built on an unprecedented start, polling 12 from a possible 12 votes from his first four games of the year, and reaching 20 by Round 10.

The Sun led from the outset, fending off red-hot favourite Nick Daicos, who came runner-up for the second time in as many seasons.

The outcome was wrapped up with two rounds remaining in the count.

Geelong hopeful Bailey Smith ended three votes behind Daicos on 29, followed by Adelaide's Jordan Dawson and Fremantle's Andy Brayshaw to round out the top five.

Wanganeen-Milera scored his first top-ten finish, equal with Melbourne's Max Gawn in ninth spot.

He was St Kilda's highest poller, well ahead of Jack McRae who finished on eight votes.

Indigenous stars Jason Horne-Francis, Izak Rankine both started well but didn't poll as strongly later on in the year.

Dees forward Kysaiah Pickett was named best on ground three times throughout the season.