The 1961 Brownlow Medal was the 34th year the award was presented to the player adjudged the fairest and best player during the Victorian Football League (VFL) home and away season. John James of the Carlton Football Club won the medal by polling twenty-one votes during the 1961 VFL season.
Leading votegetters Player Votes 1st John James () 21 2nd Laurie Dwyer () 19 3rd Ian Law () 17 4th Frank Johnson () 13=5th Charlie Evans () 12 Ted Whitten () Brendan Edwards () Jim Taylor ()=9th Kevin Murray () 11 Ron Branton ()
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