The Chas Brownlow Trophy was first presented in 1924 to the "fairest and best" player in the, then, VFL competition. It was created and named in honor of former Geelong player and adminstrator, and VFL president, who had died earlier that year after a long illness. Players are ineligible to win the medal if they have been suspended, or given a number of sanctions across the season that equal a suspension.
Six Melbourne players have won the award a total of seven times. Ivor Warne-Smith is Melbourne's only multiple winner.
| Winners/AFL | Top MFC player | Most votes | |
Winners
- Ivor Warne-Smith - 1926 and 1928
- Don Cordner - 1946
- Brian Wilson - 1982
- Peter Moore - 1984
- Jim Stynes - 1991
- Shane Woewodin - 2000
Voting systems
1924-1930 - One vote per game
1931-1975 - 3, 2, 1 votes
1976-1977 - 3, 2, 1 votes from each umpire
1978-present - 3, 2, 1 votes
Top MFC player
Most votes
- Riley played for both Collingwood and Melbourne in 1934
- Catton played for both Fitzroy and Melbourne in 1938
- Reiffel played for both Melbourne and South Melbourne in 1939
- Matthews played for Melbourne and South Melbourne in 1964
- Smith played for Essendon and Melbourne in 1975
- Wells played for Melbourne and Carlton in 1980