MORE: The 2014 AFL Brownlow - How it all unfolded | In Pictures: The Brownlow red carpet | 2014 AFL Brownlow Medal - Club by Club Votes
It was a tough night for Ablett, though, as the two-time Brownlow medallist raced out to 22 votes by Round 15, a tally that was probably a few votes lower than expected.
But the Suns’ skipper shoulder injury in Round 16 against Collingwood ultimately cost Ablett dearly as Priddis overtook him over the last few rounds.
Heading into the season’s final round, Priddis was on 24 votes, one behind Fremantle’s ineligible Nathan Fyfe and three ahead of Port Adelaide skipper Travis Boak and Adelaide surprise packet Patrick Dangerfield.
At that stage, Priddis had already won the medal, with Boak and Dangerfield looking to tie. Neither of that pair, though, polled a vote in the final round, but Priddis ended up consolidating the victory and winning in his own right as two votes in the final-round win over West Coast saw him end the count on 26 votes.
This doesn’t sit too well with me, I'm a pretty shy kind of guy," Priddis said as he accepted the award.
"I don’t see myself with the likes of some of the Brownlow medallists of the past, so it's a little bit daunting, but something I'm obviously very proud of.
"My family have been absolutely super … I would not be standing here without their love and support. They've been absolutely amazing.
The result meant Fyfe – had he been eligible – would have still lost by a vote, while Lance Franklin wasn’t left to rue missing the Round 23 loss to Richmond as he finished third in the count on 23 votes.
The victory was a win for one of the competition nice guys, the 29-year-old having missed out on four drafts before eventually being taken by West Coast after winning the 2006 Sandover Medal.
But in winning the Brownlow, he becomes just the second player after Fitzroy legend Hayden Bunton to win both a Sandover and Brownlow Medal.
In other awards, it was a Port Adelaide double for Goal of the Year and Mark of the Year. Power talisman Chad Wingard claimed the Mark of the Year with his big leap against St Kilda while speedster Matt White produced 2014's best goal with his running effort against former club Richmond
Final Leaderbard
26 - Matt Priddis
25 - Nat Fyfe *
22 - Gary Ablett
22 - Lance Franklin
21 - Travis Boak
21 - Patrick Dangerfield
21 - Josh Kennedy
21 - Joel Selwood
19 - Steve Johnson *
18 - Trent Cotchin
16 - Brent Harvey *
16 - Dayne Beams
16 - Scott Pendlebury
15 - Jordan Lewis
15 - Callan Ward
* ineligible