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.
Entertaining and informative as always!
ReplyDeleteI can't help but quietly hope Ablett misses several games, anything to open up the betting market a bit. Mind you, the way Judd is performing it could turn into one of the all time great head to head counts if they both stay fit.
The thing that had me filthy this week was that bloody Glendenning medal over in the west - all of a sudden everyone's cottoned on to what those of us doing weekly votes realised awhile ago - this Barlow guy's looking good! His price was slashed from $101 to $26-$34 on the back of his medal win, surely a ridiculous shortening on the basis of just 3 votes but that does go to show just how inflated the $101 quote was
Yep, at this stage Judd looks to be the biggest threat to Ablett, and given Juddy's current form I reckon he is every chance to take him on and beat him.
ReplyDeleteWill be quite the duel between these two, no doubt.
Arrrgh! That darned Glendenning medal! I was meaning to put a fiver down on Barlow at odds of $13 when I was doing my DT bets last weekend, but became sidetracked and completely forgot to put the bet on, and later thinking I had won an easy $65. But I still won $100 odd for the weekend on other bets, so I couldn't be too greedy I suppose.
Barlow has been a revelation this season, but it'll be interesting to see how the umpires rate him come Brownlow night as I currently have him well entrenched in my Top 5.
The shortening of odds will be contributed somewhat to punters placing some money on him, but IMO I still don't believe he can win the Brownlow in his first year. More of a chance to finish Top 5, but a more realistic chance to win the most votes for Freo. But still i'd wait to see how he performs across the entire season, and not make a judgement based on 6 rounds, as Sandi and Pav could still knock him off.