Hawthorn’s emerging star Ryan Burton capped off a magnificent season as he received the first Brownlow Medal votes of his career on Monday night. 

The 20-year old’s name was read out for one vote for his 25-possession performance against the Brisbane Lions in Round 8.

It was just the 11^th game of the South Australian’s budding career.

This matched St Kilda’s Robert Harvey and Geelong’s Joel Selwood (fourth and 10^th respectively for all-time Brownlow votes), who each polled their first vote in their 11th career game. 

Of the greatest Brownlow vote-getters, Burton's vote debut comes earlier than some impressive names: Gary Ablett Jnr (2^nd most votes of all-time, polled first in his 14^th game), Chris Judd (5^th all-time, 23^rd game), Brent Harvey (7^th all-time, 19^th game), Dane Swan (8^th all-time, 31^st game) and Simon Black (9^th all-time, 18^th). 

In fact, of the top-ten highest career totals, only former Hawk Sam Mitchell, who ranks third, was awarded votes sooner, after he polled a vote in his ninth game against Geelong in 2002.

Although, it must be said, that the exact dates of former Bulldog and Kangaroo Gary Dempsey and Hawk Leigh Matthews’, first and sixth respectively on the all-time list, first Brownlow votes are not accessible.

Interestingly, Hawthorn Recruiting and List Manager Graham Wright is a part of a rare group who polled three Brownlow votes in his debut game for Collingwood in Round 1, 1988.

Burton polled again later in the night, awarded one vote for his game against Collingwood in Round 15. 

The defender was among 11 Hawks to receive a vote on the night.