The Brownlow Race...

[Madden]

...is over.

Pending a broken leg or alien abduction, Ablett is going to win it. Champion Data have him on 23 votes already and they have been pretty much spot on the last 3 years.

Rd 13 - 37 disps (16 kicks 21 hballs), 7 marks, 6 tackles and 2 goals
Rd 12 - 32 disps (13 kicks 19 hballs), 5 marks, 5 tackles and a goal
Rd 11 - 39 disps (25 kicks 14 hballs), 4 marks, 5 tackles and 2 goals
Rd 10 - 32 disps (11 kicks 21 hballs), 5 marks and 8 tackles
Rd 09 - 29 disps (15 kicks 14 hballs), 4 marks, 5 tackles and 2 goals (Geelong Loss)
Rd 08 - 27 disps (18 kicks 9 hballs), 6 marks, 10 tackles and a goal
Rd 05 - 35 disps (20 kicks 15 hballs), 6 marks, 5 tackles and 3 goals
Rd 03 - 29 disps (13 kicks 16 hballs), 6 marks and a goal
Rd 02 - 34 disps (14 kicks 20 hballs), 7 marks and 2 goals
Rd 01 - 24 disps (15 kicks 9 hballs), 4 marks, 4 tackles and a goal

You can see from those numbers that he really has to be on 18 votes minimum and in all actuality may be significantly more than that.

I don't like putting big bets on the Brownlow during the year, because he could very well get hit by a bus tomorrow. But, if he gets to the end of the year unscathed.... Put. The. House. On.

[jimmyc1985]

Pretty much. Bookies currently have him at about $1.80 so if he continues in his current form for another 3 or 4 weeks he'll be at prohibitive odds, unless Cooney or Richo can start pulling BOGs for weeks on end. He's also aided by the fact that Bartel or Chapman haven't been as good this year, hence Gablett won't have to share the votes like last year.

Black always polls well (unusually well, i.m.o.) but is suspected to have OP and probably won't be able to challenge. Scott Thompson is a smokey who polled well last year and is having another very good year this year, but doesn't tend to dominate games like the very best midfielders.

If he stays fit and doesn't get suspended, he will win the Brownlow, and will probably do so with 30+ votes, which is something that has only happened 3 times in the last 30 years (Judd, Harvey and Williams). Mind you, Judd was on target for about 40 votes until he got OP last year - 16 votes after 8 rounds, was obvious he had OP by about round 10.

[BenDoolan]

f***'n awesome player, seriously. Should shit it in.

The only real threat would be Richo as he would dominate the voting at Richmond. Cooney would also be a threat as he's been phenomenal this year. Franklin can't win it, and he would have stolen heaps of votes from other Hawk players.

[Malky]

If I was strong enough and I had a house to put on him, I would... but then we don't have to play Geelong for the rest of the year...

At $1.80 he's not much value... but then... there's every chance he doesn't really need to play for the rest of the year to still win it!
Keep things interesting - rest him up until Round 21 and 22

[jimmyc1985]

Bump. Ablett getting injured and Brent Harvey & Jimmy Bartel having a hot streak of form has made the race a bit more open than it was a few months ago. But Ablett might have shut the door last night with a 32 touch/3 goal/5 tackle BOG performance against the Swans.

[Ossie]

He will absolutely piss it in.

[Boyler_Room]

What an incredible player. Even when he has a quiet one he does the sublime and just ices the cake that is Geelong. If he doesn't win the Chas there is something very, very wrong.

[bomberflyer]

I couldn't have said it better myself!!!

[Windy_Hill]

What an incredible player. Even when he has a quiet one he does the sublime and just ices the cake that is Geelong. If he doesn't win the Chas there is something very, very wrong.

He will probably win but that doesnt make the Brownlow right.

Too often the best player in the competition has not been recognised with its most important individual reward.

I disagree completely with the umpires being responsible for the voting - its a joke. No wonder on-ballers are getting all the votes as they are the ones under the Umpire's nose.

There should be a system of voting that is similar to The Age Footballer of the Year where a panel of judges are appointed to vote on each game with 5 players being eligible for a score out of 10.

[Boyler_Room]

WH, I almost put on the end of my post that it's quite often "wrong" but thought I'd leave it off, somewhat foolishly it seems as I knew this was an inevitable discussion point. While the Chas isn't always the best guide and often we'll see someone come from left field to snag it, it seems obvious to me that Ablett has been unbelievably outstanding this season and stands head and shoulders above the rest of the competition.

As I said, if he doesn't win it, there is something very, very wrong. Perhaps then the AFL will take notice and review the decision making process?

[Rossoneri]

What an incredible player. Even when he has a quiet one he does the sublime and just ices the cake that is Geelong. If he doesn't win the Chas there is something very, very wrong.

He will probably win but that doesnt make the Brownlow right.

Too often the best player in the competition has not been recognised with its most important individual reward.

I disagree completely with the umpires being responsible for the voting - its a joke. No wonder on-ballers are getting all the votes as they are the ones under the Umpire's nose.

There should be a system of voting that is similar to The Age Footballer of the Year where a panel of judges are appointed to vote on each game with 5 players being eligible for a score out of 10.

Why? That system put Silvagni as FB of the century.

The AA team is a farce. Leave it with the umpires.

[Windy_Hill]

What an incredible player. Even when he has a quiet one he does the sublime and just ices the cake that is Geelong. If he doesn't win the Chas there is something very, very wrong.

He will probably win but that doesnt make the Brownlow right.

Too often the best player in the competition has not been recognised with its most important individual reward.

I disagree completely with the umpires being responsible for the voting - its a joke. No wonder on-ballers are getting all the votes as they are the ones under the Umpire's nose.

There should be a system of voting that is similar to The Age Footballer of the Year where a panel of judges are appointed to vote on each game with 5 players being eligible for a score out of 10.

Why? That system put Silvagni as FB of the century.

The AA team is a farce. Leave it with the umpires.

Rosso, I would take Silvagni as FBotC anyday over a Libba Brownlow!!!!

[BenDoolan]

What an incredible player. Even when he has a quiet one he does the sublime and just ices the cake that is Geelong. If he doesn't win the Chas there is something very, very wrong.

He will probably win but that doesnt make the Brownlow right.

Too often the best player in the competition has not been recognised with its most important individual reward.

I disagree completely with the umpires being responsible for the voting - its a joke. No wonder on-ballers are getting all the votes as they are the ones under the Umpire's nose.

There should be a system of voting that is similar to The Age Footballer of the Year where a panel of judges are appointed to vote on each game with 5 players being eligible for a score out of 10.

Why? That system put Silvagni as FB of the century.

The AA team is a farce. Leave it with the umpires.

I believe the coaches should put the votes in at the end of the game - as they do in the AFL Coaches Association POTY Award. They know which player contributed best to the teams cause and they also know which opposition player caused the most damage. Certainly have more credibility than 3 moronic umpires who struggle to get decisions right.

[Rossoneri]

I believe the coaches should put the votes in at the end of the game - as they do in the AFL Coaches Association POTY Award. They know which player contributed best to the teams cause and they also know which opposition player caused the most damage. Certainly have more credibility than 3 moronic umpires who struggle to get decisions right.

Spot on. Every coach has watched every game probably 3-4 times.

I think what needs to happen is that the players and coaches need to make more of a big deal about it. Have it as a full on dress up night, try and get the networks involved and refer to the player as the reigning POTY.

[Windy_Hill]

Mark Bolton would be a Triple Brownlow Medalist by now if Sheeds had been voting

[BenDoolan]

Mark Bolton would be a Triple Brownlow Medalist by now if Sheeds had been voting

You may have a point there...

[Boyler_Room]

Mark Bolton would be a Triple Brownlow Medalist by now if Sheeds had been voting

I don't know. Kepler could have stolen one or two!!

[Rossoneri]

Mark Bolton would be a Triple Brownlow Medalist by now if Sheeds had been voting

Well, Goodes has two and he is Mark Boltons bitch.

[tonysoprano]

where can you actually get the champion data votes?