West Coast coach Adam Simpson has laughed off Matt Priddis winning the Brownlow Medal without making the AFL All-Australian team.
The midfielder's absence from the All-Australian team emphasises that this is a boilover result.
The 29-year-old was in the 40-player All-Australian squad, but he has never made the final 22 of the annual honorary team.
Priddis is the first Brownlow Medallist since Melbourne's Shane Woewodin in 2000 - another surprise result - not to achieve All-Australian honours in the same season.
"We're ecstatic - what a fantastic effort," Simpson said.
"It's not just one out-of-the-blue year.
"It's 10-plus years almost of continuous effort and I know you got overlooked for the All-Australian mate, but I think you'll cop this one."
Simpson said Priddis and key defender Eric Mackenzie were "a bit stiff" not to receive All-Australian honours.
Priddis, the former tiler who famously was overlooked in four national drafts before joining the Eagles as a mature-age recruit, admitted he was a little bit embarrassed to now be a Brownlow Medallist.
"Obviously it's not taking away from how honoured I am, but there are so many fantastic players in the competition who I thought were going to win," he said.
There was also relief that he polled one more vote than Fremantle's Nat Fyfe, who was ineligible through suspension.
The last player to poll the most votes, but not win the medal because of suspension, was Chris Grant of the Western Bulldogs in 1997.
Simpson heaped praise on Priddis, saying the midfielder was always reliable.
"He's held our midfield together in stages throughout the year and he's really helped grow and develop our midfield, but at stages it was on his own, quite often with players running with him," Simpson said.
"And he still got the job done.
"Every week you just know what you're going to get. They're underestimated, players like that."
"To poll in 13 games, I'm not sure how many have polled in more games in one year but it wouldn't be too many."
Simpson joked that he probably would not have to counsel Priddis about being carried away about the Brownlow.
"I know he's going to be humble about it, but also quite composed and just roll with it and enjoy the moment and enjoy the night," Simpson said.
"He's a team player so I don't think we'll have any troubles about him getting ahead of himself."
"We're just so happy . . . hopefully it sinks in and you appreciate everything that comes your way, mate."
Priddis celebrated the medal late on Monday night with Simpson and Eagles teammates who were also at the Melbourne count.
His wife Ashleigh is expecting their second child and did not travel.
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