'Hayes Fever' Round 9, 2010 Wrap - 3, 2, 1 Votes.

Given that both Judd and Ablett respectively had quiet weeks, were there any notable Brownlow smokies that made a dash in the voting stakes and attempted to bridge the sizable gap between the two aforementioned tally leaders and the rest of their competition?

The answer is yes, and one of these players was Hayes... Lenny Hayes.

This bloke is one of my favourite players outside of my own team (Carlton), and his game on the weekend exemplified why. The toughnut gathered 35 damaging disposals - 10 of which were in the third quarter - and was the standout barometer in the Saints fightback win against the Eagles.

Given his dominant performances in the past few weeks, it's hard to believe the TAB were offering odds of around $67 outright at Round 4/5. And if it weren't for the Saints poor form of late i'd suggest he'd have netted even more votes, as they are always hard to come by in a losing side. Personally, i'm still perplexed at how the bookies continue to underestimate his potential after what happened last year when they were robbed blind by those punters who snapped up the $8 they were offering for Hayes to win most votes at the Saints.

And if my Phantom Brownlow Tally is anything to go by, then Hayes looms as a suitable challenger to the 'Judd/Ablett Show'. Also, just as a sidenote, Hodge seems to be making a move also, but I hold out massive queries over his polling ability and 'likeability' factor to the umpires despite his very solid performances.

Collingwood V Geelong
3. J. Bartel
2. J. Kelly
1. D. Beams

North Melbourne V Western Bulldogs
3. A. Cooney
2. M. Boyd
1. B. Lake

Sydney V Fremantle
3. D. Mundy
2. P. Hasleby
1. M. Pavlich

Essendon V Richmond
3. D. Hille
2. J. Watson
1. L. Jetta

Melbourne V Port Adelaide
3. B. Green
2. A. Davey
1. T. Boak

Adelaide V Brisbane
3. R. Douglas
2. N. Van Berlo
1. A. McGrath

Carlton V Hawthorn
3. L. Hodge
2. L. Franklin
1. M. Osborne

West Coast V St. Kilda
3. L. Hayes
2. B. Goddard
1. N. Dal Santo

-----------------------------------------------------------

Leaderboard
14 - G. Ablett
12 - C. Judd
11 - L. Hayes (+)
11 - L. Hodge (+)
10 - M. Barlow
8 - A. Cooney (+)
8 - J. Bartel (+)
8 - A. Sandilands
8 - D. Swan
8 - A. Swallow
7 - M. Pavlich (+)
7 - J. Watson (+)
7 - S. Pendlebury
7 - J. Brennan*
7 - R. O'Keefe
6 - B. Goddard (+)
6 - M. Boyd (+)
6 - M. Priddis
6 - N. Riewoldt
6 - J. Brown
6 - T. Boak (+)

Note: (*) Ineligible. (+) Ranking Rise. (-) Ranking Drop.

'A Two-Horse Race?' Round 8, 2010 Wrap - 3, 2, 1 Votes.

We've not even reached the halfway mark of the season, and there are many who share my opinion, that the Brownlow is shaping up to be a two horse race between none other than Chris Judd and Gary Ablett.

Each are champion players in their own right, and are two of which that have been very much compared in recent years in an attempt to find as to who is superior player. And as my progressive count indicates thus far, the 2010 Brownlow could very well weigh into that debate.

It was only back in Round 4, that I posted an entry pondering as to whether Ablett already had the Brownlow sewn up. At the conclusion of that round I had Ablett already on 9 votes, with the next best in Riewoldt and Brown on 6; one of which suffered a severe injury and the other whose performances were starting to wane due to niggling groin injury. Coincidentally, that was also the fateful round of Judd's first game for 2010, which was a first up BOG performance against Adelaide. Still, Judd faced a seemingly uphill battle to make his way back, having been already 6 votes behind the bald Geelong wizard at this stage.

But, as they say, a week is a long time in football... even moreso 4 weeks.

And 4 rounds on, Ablett has only added 5 votes to his tally, whereas Judd has nearly doubled that figure, accumulating a staggering 9 votes by my count.

It's still only early stages, but it's sure looking to be a battle of epic proportions between these two footballing gladiators.

Fremantle V Collingwood:
3. T. Cloke
2. D. Swan
1. L. Ball

Western Bulldogs V Sydney:
3. B. Lake
2. B. Hall
1. D. Cross

Melbourne V West Coast:
3. M. Priddis
2. D. Cox
1. J. McDonald

Brisbane V Geelong:
3. S. Johnson
2. P. Chapman
1. J. Bartel

North Melbourne V Adelaide:
3. A. Swallow
2. D. Wells
1. T. Goldstein

Richmond V Hawthorn:
3. L. Hodge
2. B. Deledio
1. S. Mitchell

Port Adelaide V Carlton:
3. C. Judd
2. K. Simpson
1. M. Kreuzer

St. Kilda V Essendon:
3. P. Ryder
2. H. Hocking
1. L. Hayes

-----------------------------------------------------------

Leaderboard
14 - G. Ablett
12 - C. Judd (+)
10 - M. Barlow (-)
8 - A. Sandilands
8 - D. Swan (+)
8 - A. Swallow (+)
8 - L. Hodge (+)
8 - L. Hayes (+)
7 - S. Pendlebury
7 - J. Brennan*
7 - R. O'Keefe
6 - M. Priddis (+)
6 - N. Riewoldt
6 - J. Brown
6 - M. Pavlich

Note: (*) Ineligible. (+) Ranking Rise. (-) Ranking Drop.

'Scully Tickles Umpires Pink' Round 7, 2010 Wrap - 3, 2, 1 Votes.

Round 7 kicked off with a display from one young lad in Demon's colours (not to be confused with umpire colours) that drew the attention of football fans across the country. Tom Scully, the number 1 draft pick of last year, racked up an impressive 39 possies; 18 of which came in the last quarter. If anything is for sure as to who will get 3 votes across each of the games this round it's certainly this bloke... well, that is until Ablett played his game against Sydney on Sunday.

Ablett again went on his usual rampage and ripped Sydney to shreds, amassing 38 touches, 10 marks, 7 tackles, and 2 goals. He has topped the Brownlow votes in the past three occasions the Cats and Swans have met, and you'd suggest, on the back of his latest performance, this match will be no different.

And just an update in regards to the latest odds shows Ablett has shortened to $3.50 favouritism, whilst Judd has eased into $8, way ahead of the next best in Swan at $17.

If you were going to have a bet on Ablett, i'd suggest you do it pretty soon as there's little chance you'll see him at these odds for much longer. Personally I am still wary of Judd, so will be holding off for the time being.

Also, I only just noticed the headline i've given this blog entry makes it sound as though it's a title of a porn film. I'm sorry to disappoint those who read the blog expecting vastly different content. Sickos...

Western Bulldogs V Melbourne:
3. T. Scully
2. D. Giansiracusa
1. S. Higgins

Essendon V Port Adelaide:
3. D. Pearce
2. D. Rodan
1. A. Monfries

West Coast V Hawthorn:
3. J. Kennedy
2. M. LeCras
1. J. Lewis

Collingwood V North Melbourne:
3. D. Swan
2. L. Ball
1. S. Sidebottom

Brisbane V Fremantle:
3. S. Hill
2. S. Black
1. M. Pavlich

Geelong V Sydney:
3. G. Ablett
2. J. Selwood
1. J. Podsiadly

Adelaide V Richmond:
3. A. McLeod
2. G. Johncock
1. S. Goodwin

St. Kilda V Carlton:
3. J. Russell
2. J. Garlett
1. C. Judd

-----------------------------------------------------------

Top 10 Leaderboard:
14 - G. Ablett
10 - M. Barlow
9 - C. Judd (+)
8 - A. Sandilands (-)
7 - S. Pendlebury
7 - J. Brennan*
7 - L. Hayes
7 - R. O'Keefe
6 - D. Swan (+)
6 - M. Pavlich (+)

Note: (*) Ineligible. (+) Ranking Rise. (-) Ranking Drop.

'God Jr. a mere mortal?' Round 6, 2010 Wrap - 3, 2, 1 Votes.

The biggest news Brownlow wise, was Ablett missing Round 6 due to a hamstring complaint... or was it actually due to, as some would say, a pulled heartstring instead?

Despite many of the opinion that he was close to best-on-ground, Mark Thompson strangely enough criticized Ablett's game in their lackluster performance against Carlton, stating "I don't think Gary had a great game".

And with news only breaking today that Ablett was out at a Logies afterparty until 3AM, some are questioning the severity of his injury, or as to whether he is actually injured at all. Personally, i don't see what the fuss is all about, as a very minor hamstring injury isn't exactly going to prevent you going out and socializing. I suppose whether or not that is seen as an irresponsible thing for a leader to do under his circumstances, is another question altogether.

However, one important question that has presented itself is whether this injury has the potential to derail his chances of snapping up his second consecutive Brownlow this year. His biggest threat in Chris Judd, has almost definitely secured 2 more votes (if not 3) in his absence, and in turn narrowed the vote margin between the two to 3 votes, according to my vote tally. With Ablett also missing training at Geelong today, one must ask; could this hamstring injury sideline him for Round 7 as well, or perhaps longer? If so, will Judd now make the most of the opportunity and overrun Ablett in the voting stakes to become leader?

Interesting times ahead!

Western Bulldogs V St. Kilda:
3. L. Hayes
2. A. Cooney
1. J. Harbrow

North Melbourne V Melbourne:
3. A. Swallow
2. D. Wells
1. L. Anthony

Adelaide V Port Adelaide:
3. R. Gray
2. D. Cassissi
1. T. Edwards

Essendon V Hawthorn:
3. N. Lovett-Murray
2. J. Watson
1. D. Fletcher

Sydney V Brisbane:
3. K. Jack
2. R. O'Keefe
1. D. Bradshaw

Geelong V Richmond:
3. P. Chapman
2. J. Selwood
1. S. Johnson

Carlton V Collingwood:
3. S. Pendlebury
2. C. Judd
1. D. Thomas

West Coast V Fremantle:
3. M. Barlow
2. M. Pavlich
1. P. Duffield

-----------------------------------------------------------

Leaderboard:

11 - G. Ablett
10 - M. Barlow (+)
8 - A. Sandilands (+)
8 - C. Judd (+)
7 - S. Pendlebury (+)
7 - J. Brennan*
7 - L. Hayes (+)
7 - R. O'Keefe (+)
6 - N. Riewoldt
6 - J. Brown
5 - M. Pavlich (+)
5 - L. Hodge
5 - A. Cooney (+)
5 - H. Shaw
5 - A. Swallow (+)
5 - T. Boak
5 - R. Griffen
5 - B. Moloney
5 - N. Lovett-Murray (+)
5 - J. Watson (+)
4 - J. Bartel
4 - B. Goddard
4 - M. Murphy
4 - A. Goodes
4 - M. Rischitelli
4 - James McDonald
4 - M. Boyd

Note: (*) Ineligible. (+) Ranking Rise. (-) Ranking Drop.