GARY ABLETT WINS 2009 BROWNLOW MEDAL
Ben Jensen 22 September 2009

By Ben Jensen GEELONG'S GARY ABLETT has won the AFL 2009 Brownlow Medal, stunning everyone by winning by a massive eight votes from Carlton's Chris Judd. Ablett stormed into the lead from round one, scoring six votes in the opening three rounds before two more best on grounds in rounds four and five. After eleven rounds Lenny Hayes was Ablett's principal rival, trailing on 16 votes to Ablett's 19. But despite playing in almost all winning sides since that point, Hayes' teammates took votes from him in all but rounds 17 (3 votes) and 22 (1 vote), to finish with 20 votes. Jonathan Brown, likewise, had a hot streak after being on just 8 votes at the halfway point, polled 11 votes in the next seven rounds to move into second place on 19 votes by round 18, but didn't poll again. Chris Judd averaged a vote a round, having a total of 11 votes by round 11, and finishing on 22. Watch Ablett's Acceptance Speech

TOP FIVE

GEELONG TOTALS

1	Gary Ablett	30
2	Joel Selwood	16
3	Jimmy Bartel	13
4	Paul Chapman	12
5	Joel Corey	7
6	Steve Johnson	6
7	Shannon Byrnes	3
7	Matthew Scarlett	3
9	Cameron Ling	2
9	Darren Milburn	2
9	Cameron Mooney	2
12	Brad Ottens	1
			GARY ABLETT WITH GIRLFRIEND LAUREN PHILLIPS BEFORE THE COUNT