Jobe Watson has shot to the lead in the race for this years Brownlow Medal, picking up his second BOG in a losing side in as many weeks.  The Essendon captain has now accumulated 19 votes for the season - surpassing the 16 & 15 votes he has collected over the past 2 years.

 

His main 4 rivals have failed to fire a shot in the last 3 weeks, however last years winner returned from injury in style, picking up his 4th BOG for the year, and remains 6 votes off the pace.

 
<table width="466" border="0" cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0"><col style="width: 123pt" width="164" /> <col style="width: 17pt" span="9" width="22" /> <col style="width: 22pt" span="2" width="29" /> <col style="width: 35pt" width="46" />
<tbody>
<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl66" style="height: 15pt;width: 123pt" width="164" height="20">TEAM - Player
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R1
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R2
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R3
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R4
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R5
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R6
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R7
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R8
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 17pt" width="22">R9
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 22pt" width="29">R10
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 22pt" width="29">R11
<td class="xl67" style="border-left: medium none;width: 35pt" width="46">TOTAL


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">ESS - Jobe Watson
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">19


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">ADE - Scott Thompson
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">18


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">ESS - Brent Stanton
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">16


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">WBD - Matthew Boyd
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">14


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">COL - Scott Pendlebury
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">14


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">GCS - Gary Ablett
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">13


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">COL - Dane Swan
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">13


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">HAW - Lance Franklin
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">13


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">SYD - Josh P. Kennedy
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl69" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl69" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl69" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">10


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">WCE - Scott Selwood
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl69" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl68" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl69" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">10


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">ADE - Patrick Dangerfield
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">-
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">10


<tr style="height: 15pt">
<td class="xl65" style="height: 15pt;border-top: medium none" height="20">HAW - Sam Mitchell
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">3
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl71" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">2
<td class="xl70" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">1
<td class="xl67" style="border-top: medium none;border-left: medium none">10




Over the last 10 years, the winner has come from a side that finished in the top 4 on all but two occasions (thatd be Judd &amp; Judd).  Over the break, well look through the main chances from the 6 teams that are most likely to make up the top 4, along with this weeks votes....and congratulations to Jason Blake.  You no longer hold the title of the most AFL games without a vote

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1st - Collingwood

Pendlebury 14, Swan 13, Sidebottom 9, Beams 8.  Whilst neither will win this years medal, the emergence of Sidebottom &amp; Beams may impact on either Pendlebury or Swans ability to collect enough 3s to win overall.

Good Chance: Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan

2nd - Sydney

Kennedy 10, Jack 9, Hannebery 8.  JPK started this year like a house on fire, although has since faded away.  None of this trio are currently on enough votes to challenge given their potential/likely output over the second half of the season.  The return of Adam Goodes may eat up their potential 3s also.  Kennedy has only polled 3 votes in his career prior to this year.

Smoky: Josh P. Kennedy

3rd - West Coast Eagles

S Selwood 10, Kerr 6, Rosa 5, Cox 4, Gaff 4.  Scott Selwood has never polled a Brownlow vote, however is enjoying a massive breakout year.  West Coasts success year to date can be explained through the depth and evenness of their midfield, which their current tally shows: S Selwood, Kerr, Rosa, Gaff, Masten, Priddis &amp; Shuey (thats 7) all have the ability to be BOG on any given day.  Last year, only Priddis, Kerr &amp; maybe Shuey could be included in that list.  Great for the team, not great for collecting individual awards.

4th - Essendon

Watson 19, Stanton 16.  In the first half of this year, Essendons midfield duo are responsible for 70% of the teams votes in this years count.  Other teams have since caught on, and Stanton has been well held in the last 3 weeks.  The Bombers have also lost 2 matches during this period.  With their third best midfielder now out for the next 4-6 weeks, their ability to win enough games to make the top 4 may be in question.  Whilst it has less of an impact on Watson, Stanton can only be considered a smoky should opposition teams continue with these tactics.

Good Chane: Jobe Watson
Smoky: Brent Stanton

5th - Adelaide

Thompson 18, Dangerfield 10.  Thompson has been in blistering form all season, whilst Dangerfield has really had a burst since Rd 5.  Thompson is a proven poller, averaging over 14 votes per season over the last 5 years.  Hasnt polled since Rd 8, in which time hes been successfully tagged, leaving Dangerfield and Sloane to rack up the big numbers.  Dangerfield is a very different prospect.  Despite being 8 votes behind Thompson on my count, hes currently on shorter odds than Thompson. with most agencies.  Could only be considered a smoky, given his current votes polled, and only polling 9 votes across his career to date.

Good Chance: Scott Thompson
Smoky: Patrick Dangerfield

6th - Hawthorn

Franklin 13, Mitchell 10, Sewell 7.  Franklin, the only true forward in the mix, picked up 20 votes in 2008 along side his 102 goals, however also collected 20 votes last year with just 71 - proving he no longer has to kick massive bags in order to poll well.  Mitchell picked up 30 votes last year, however is slightly down on form from last year (-10 in DT, -4 in SC) - yet to Rd 11 last year, Mitchell had just 8 votes before starting his massive run.

Smoky: Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell

From teams currently outside the top 6, only captains Matthew Boyd, Gary Ablett &amp; Joel Selwood have any realistic chance of winning from here.  Ablett cant do much more than hes done, averaging 37.5 possessions in the first 10 rounds.  Given the winner has polled at least 29 votes in 4 of the last 5 years, Ablett wont be able to get there until his team improves.  Whilst a star of the game, Boyd isnt the type of player that could win it from outside the eight, and Joel Selwood is probably a few votes too far back to win from here.

OVERALL

Good Chance: Scott Pendlebury, Dane Swan, Jobe Watson &amp; Scott Thompson

Smoky: Josh P. Kennedy, Brent Stanton, Patrick Dangerfield, Lance Franklin, Sam Mitchell, Matthew Boyd, Gary Ablett Jnr &amp; Joel Selwood

Geelong v Carlton

3 - Joel Selwood (9)
2 - Mitch Duncan (3)
1 - Steven Motlop (1)
The rest: K. Simpson, C. Judd, M. Scarlett, P. Chapman, M. Stokes, J. Bartel

Fremantle v Richmond

3 - Matthew de Boer (3)
2 - Matthew Pavlich (8)
1 - Jonathon Griffin (1)
The rest: S. Tuck, M. Johnson, S. Hill, M. Barlow, T. Cotchin, H. Ballantyne

St Kilda v Gold Coast

3 - Nick Riewoldt (4)
2 - Jason Blake (2)
1 - Jason Gram (1)
The rest: D. Armitage, N. Dal Santo, S. Dempster

Sydney v Essendon

3 - Jobe Watson (19)
2 - Jude Bolton (5)
1 - Lewis Jetta (1)
The rest: R. OKeefe, R. Shaw, K. Jack, J. P. Kennedy, J. McVeigh

Hawthorn v Port Adelaide

3 - Brad Sewell (7)
2 - Lance Franklin (13)
1 - Sam Mitchell (10)
The rest: D. Hale, L. Breust, K. Cornes, J. Gibson, G. Birchall, C. Rioli

Collingwood v Melbourne

3 - Dane Swan (13)
2 - Steele Sidebottom (9)
1 - Dayne Beams (8)