The AFL’s night of nights is here, with Gary Ablett the favourite to take out the 2013 Brownlow Medal. Will he claim his second ‘Charlie’ or will there be a surprise? Find out from 8.00pm AEST as we provide live updates.
The 2013 AFL season is nearly done.
We have our two grand finalists and we are heading towards that last day in September that will determine who is the best team this season, or at least the one who will be the best on the day.
But we just need to determine one thing first – who the best player is.
Whether or not you think the umpires are in the best position to judge this, the ‘Charlie’, as it is affectionately known, is the benchmark by which champion players are judged.
The event itself is the traditional occasion where players not involved in the big game are able to let their hair down, for better or worse (Brendan Fevola comes to mind in both of these categories, depending on your point of view) on national television.
These can provide highlights (or lowlights) to what is usually pretty pedestrian television, especially if the count isn’t close.
But it does give us a chance to reflect on the season round by round, to remember those performances that we may have forgotten about along the way, and to celebrate those players, and ultimately the player, that are at the pinnacle of the sport.
Gary Ablett is the favourite to take the medal this year, and has been for most of the season, with current betting odds putting him at $1.80.
The former winner has had a stellar season on the Gold Coast and the ability of his team to win games this season will definitely be in his favour during the count.
He won selection in the All-Australian team for a seventh-straight time and has only missed one game for the season.
If he wins, it will be on the back of a series of three-vote games early on, as his last few games were quiet by his standards.
Joel Selwood is also tipped to come in second, the Geelong captain having yet another consistent season but has become a goal-kicker for the Cats, a fact that may have caught the eye of the men in yellow/green/orange/pink.
His odds are currently at $5.50.
Interestingly, Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell has firmed as a chance to take Charlie home tonight, with a betting plunge putting his odds at $5.50 today, reduced from $21 a week ago.
Mitchell is a quality player, has polled well in the past and Hawthorn have definitely won enough games for him to feature in the votes consistently.
Other players in the mix are Collingwood’s Dane Swan and Scott Pendlebury, Sydney’s Kieren Jack and Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield.
Whether or not you think the event provides the spectacle the medal deserves, there is no doubt that once the winner’s name is read out they will occupy a unique place in the history of the game.
That, in itself, should be applauded.
adam
Guest
which club had the most votes?
chrismason
Roar Guru
Well with the last of the events now complete before the Grand Final, we can look forward to the build up to Saturday with excitement and anticipation. If the finish then is anything like tonight, we will have witnessed a classic. Gary Ablett confirms his status as the best player in the game and did it in style, leaving it until the last minute to take the medal. The Suns are also on the up, so the prospect of increasing numbers of wins for the Gold Coast club bodes well for Ablett to win another one. Who knows? He could end up with three or four before he is done. Thanks for being with us on what was a great night. Be sure to follow us on Saturday for the big one. Chris Mason, signing off.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
He did well considering he missed 3 rounds with injury as well
chrismason
Roar Guru
Jobe Watson also did well to finish seventh in a tough year for himself and his club, while Dustin Martin showed the dwindling number of clubs interested in him that he has a lot of ability to offer.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Hawthorn and Fremantle showed that the ability to get to a Grand Final rests on team performance, with no representatives in the Top Ten. Sam Mitchell ended up in 12th while David Mundy finished 13th, both on 16 votes.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Patrick Dangerfield did well to poll 22 votes with Adelaide not having the best season, if they can lift their performances and get some more wins in future, he could yet snare one. Dan Hannebery is also rewarded for a stellar season but Sydney's form fading towards the end of the year didn't help him. young Brisbane Lion Tom Rockliff also has a bright future and a long career ahead.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Gary Jr. says Gary Snr should've won a Brownlow and now he can give him one of his.
KiwiDave
Roar Guru
Jumped on at round 21. Got $2.50 for him :)
chrismason
Roar Guru
So Ablett proves the punters right and takes out his second Brownlow Medal with 28 votes. He says he was devastated that he polled three votes in the last round because he wanted to share it with former teammate and Geelong captain Joel Selwood, who ends on 27. Dane Swan stormed home to finish in third place with 26.
Hillsboy
Guest
Lots of players covered by not many votes, pretty close there shame it wasnt a tie with Selwood
chrismason
Roar Guru
TOP TEN G.Ablett (GC) 28 J.Selwood (GEEL) 27 D.Swan (COLL) 26 P.Dangerfield (ADE) 22 S.Pendelbury (COLL) 21 D.Hannebery (SYD) 21 D.Rockliff (BRIS) 21 T.Cotchin (RICH) 19 K.Jack (SYD) 19 J.Watson (ESS) 17
chrismason
Roar Guru
ABlett has done it! The favourite wins the Brownlow with a BOG 3 votes in the final round of the 2013 AFL season. Selwood and Swan didn't poll, leaving the champion of the Gold Coast to take the medal by one vote!
JR Salazar
Guest
He is The Gaz of the Gold Coast Sky. Number One in the Red, Gold and Blue: The Gazza of the Gold Coast Suns. He's here to win the Chas for you. Fight, fight, fight till he holds up the prize. Three, three, three all the way. Hey! He is The Gaz of the Gold Coast Sky. He's a man who will never say die. HEY!
chrismason
Roar Guru
ROUND 23 PORT v CARL 15.13 (103) 15.14 (104) 3.Murphy 2.Ebert 1.Cornes SYD v HAW 16.4 (100) 17.10 (112) 3.Mumford 2.Lewis 1.Kennedey WB v MELB 16.11 (107) 13.9 (87) 3.Boyd 2.Cooney 1.Liberatore STK v FRE 16.16 (112) 6.5 (41) 3.Steven 2.Montagna 1.Lake GCFC v GWS 22.14 (146) 9.9 (63) 3.Ablett 2.Prestia 1.Thompson ESS v RICH 9.11 (65) 15.14 (104) 3.Jackson 2.Ellis 1.Edwards COLL v NMFC 17.12 (114) 19.11 (125) 3.Ziebel 2.Pendelbury 1.Bastinac WCE v ADEL 5.13 (43) 19.15 (129) 3.Dangerfield 2.Crouch 1.Sloane GEEL v BL 15.22 (112) 17.9 (111) 3.Rockliff 2.Stokes 1.McGrath
chrismason
Roar Guru
Round 23 here we go...
TomC
Roar Guru
I wouldn't think Selwood would poll against Brisbane.
chrismason
Roar Guru
Amazing! It's going to come down to whoever has the best final game of the season to decide the Charlie!. Any of the top three could win it if they poll well enough, great end to the count.
chrismason
Roar Guru
TOP 3 J.Selwood (GEEL) 27 D.Swan (COLL) 26 G.Ablett (GC) 25
chrismason
Roar Guru
ROUND 22 COLL v WCE 15.11 (101) 5.9 (39) 3.Thomas 2.Swan 1.Pendelbury ADEL v MELB 18.12 (120) 7.10 (52) 3.Thompson 2.Johnstone 1.Crouch NMFC v HAW 15.13 (103) 17.15 (117) 3.Wells 2.Goldstein 1.Rioli GEEL v SYD 13.14 (92) 7.6 (48) 3.Johnson 2.Taylor 1.Enright CARL v ESS 9.22 (76) 12.10 (82) 3.Simpson 2.Watson 1.Hurley FRE v PORT 21.8 (134) 9.6 (60) 3.Ballantyne 2.Mundy 1.Mzungu STK v GCFC 17.14 (116) 10.10 (70) 3.Montagna 2.Riewoldt 1.Del Santo GWS v RICH 6.6 (42) 25.13 (163) 3.Martin 2.Grigg 1.Edwards BL v WB 15.10 (100) 13.15 (93) 3.Rockliff 2.Leuenberger 1.Dauhlhaus
chrismason
Roar Guru
Sewlood jumps ahead of Ablett by one vote!