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Watson, whenever talking about his chances of taking home the medal prior to the night, conceded it was his most consistent season of his career at the Bombers. In the end, it was his consistency which lifted him to become the sixth Bomber to win the medal.

These were the rounds pivotal to the Essendon captain's win:

Round two: While Gary Ablett claimed his second consecutive best-on-ground effort in a losing team to firm for the medal, Watson's 25-disposal game against Port Adelaide saw him get his first three-vote performance. It was the first of six best-on-ground games.

Round six: An important round for Watson, who claimed three votes while Ablett was out injured with a knee complaint. Watson was brilliant at this stage of the season, and had 36 disposals against the Brisbane Lions in Essendon's big win.

Round nine: This was when Trent Cotchin, who finished in equal second place, started to make his move. Cotchin got three votes in Richmond's win over Hawthorn, but Watson kept up the pace, snagging another best-on-ground showing against Greater Western Sydney. By this stage, Watson had 16 votes - which equalled his famous father Tim's best ever haul at a Brownlow (in 1989).

Round 13: Many thought Michael Hurley might pip Watson for best afield honours after the key forward's six-goal haul. But Watson's final quarter brilliance won over the umpires, and he brought in another three votes.

Round 14: Watson opened up his biggest lead of the night after another three-vote effort against the Western Bulldogs. After 14 rounds, in which Watson had remarkably polled in 12, he had 26 votes. But Scott Thompson, Adelaide's surging midfielder, was within reach with 18 votes while Ablett looked likely to charge home. Ablett was on 15 votes at this stage, and the Bombers won only one more game for the year.

Round 16: Many Essendon supporters were cursing their forward Leroy Jetta this round, after his unlikely three-vote game against Port Adelaide. Jetta had 18 touches and kicked three goals. This seemed a probable vote-getting game for Watson, who had 28 disposals and willed his team across the line against the Power. But Watson got none, and all of a sudden Hawk Sam Mitchell was right in contention to snatch the award in the dying stages. Mitchell won three votes for his 34-possession game in Hawthorn's win over the Bulldogs.

Round 19: By this stage, it was seeming more likely than not that Watson was about to be overrun, despite leading the Brownlow count almost all night. Essendon wasn't going to win another game and Ablett and Mitchell were coming. But then Watson got the three-vote game that effectively made him the Brownlow winner. Despite the Bombers' four-point loss to Adelaide, Watson got three votes and moved to 29 - a six-vote lead over Ablett. Surely he couldn't be headed now … could he?

Round 20: It was the proverbial 'handy vote'. Again in a losing team, the 27-year-old earned one vote for his 32 disposals and 15 contested possessions against North Melbourne. This all but sealed his victory, putting him seven votes ahead of Ablett and Mitchell with three rounds to play. With 30 votes, Watson looked safe, but he knew he wouldn't get another vote for the rest of the year while others seemed likely to attract more.

Round 21: This was the round that won Watson the medal. With his only real challengers being Mitchell and Ablett, everyone was focused on the pair. It was appropriate that the Hawks and Suns played each other. It went like this: one vote for Gold Coast's Steven May. Two votes for Hawthorn's Luke Hodge. Three votes for Hawthorn's Brad Sewell. And one Brownlow Medal to Essendon's Jobe Watson. The last two rounds were null and void, with Watson taking an unbeatable lead into rounds 22 and 23.