Getting off to a good start goes a long way to taking out the Brownlow medal.  Cooney, Ablett and Judd all polled 5, 6 & 9 votes respectively in their first three games when they most recently took out the award, so already we can start to make some predictions for this year.

Swan, Watson and Goodes are the three leaders when looking at the combined TS/Holey predictions, with both camps having Swan on 6, and the latter two with 5 or 6 depending on which tally you are following closer.

Swan looks to have taken his game to another level this year, and whilst quieter and less influential than the first two games, he was probably in the best 4-5 players on the ground which will give him a chance.  Remembering he finished 3rd on 24 votes last year, and with Ablett likely to drop away somewhat, he doesn’t need to improve a great deal to get the medal he deserved last year (just seeing if Ben is still out there somewhere...Judd is as worthy a winner as any).  Swan is currently the favourite at $6.

Watson has played two great games now in what looks to be a far improved team.  He polled 16 votes in a team that won just 7 games last year, so his fortunes will likely be linked closely of that to how far the Bombers have actually progressed.  The signs are bright at the moment, and the punters agree with him now moved up to third place behind last year’s winner at $11.

And finally to Goodes.  After a slow second half in round 1, the dual medallist has bounced back with two very impressive games.  We all know he is an umpire favourite, and early money on him wouldn’t be the worst bet in the world with him sitting at equal 7th in the betting at $17.

This week’s votes over the break:<!--more-->

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Collingwood v Carlton

TS:
3 – J. Blair (3)
2 – C. Judd (4)
1 – D. Swan (6)

Holey:
3 – J. Blair (3)
2 – H. Shaw (2)
1 – D. Swan (6)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Western Bulldogs v Gold Coast

TS:
3 – M. Boyd (5)
2 – G. Ablett (2)
1 – S. Higgins (1)

Holey:
3 – M. Boyd (5)
2 – G. Ablett (2)
1 – D. Cross (1)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Fremantle v Adelaide

TS:
3 – S. Thompson (3)
2 – N. Fyfe (3)
1 – D. Mundy (1)

Holey:
3 – S. Thompson (3)
2 – N. Fyfe (3)
1 – D. Mundy (1)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Hawthorn v Richmond

TS:
3 – L. Franklin (3)
2 – L. Hodge (2)
1 – S. Burgoyne (2)

Holey:
3 – L. Franklin (3)
2 – L. Hodge (2)
1 – J. Lewis (1)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Sydney v West Coast

TS:
3 – A. Goodes (5)
2 – J. Bolton (6)
1 – D. Cox (5)

Holey:
3 – A. Goodes (6)
2 – K. Jack (2)
1 – J. Bolton (3)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Melbourne v Brisbane

TS:
3 – B. Moloney (5)
2 – T. Rockliff (2)
1 – L. Power (1)

Holey:
3 – B. Moloney (5)
2 – L. Power (2)
1 – M. Jamar (1)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Geelong v Port Adelaide

TS:
3 – J. Bartel (6)
2 – J. Kelly (2)
1 – J. Selwood (1)

Holey:
3 – J. Selwood (3)
2 – J. Bartel (4)
1 – B. Ottens (1)

[span style="text-decoration: underline">Essendon v St Kilda

TS:
3 – J. Watson (6)
2 – S. Crameri (2)
1 – T. Bellchambers (1)

Holey:
3 – J. Watson (5)
2 – T. Bellchambers (2)
1 – S. Crameri (1)

LEADERBOARDS (number in brackets is votes in alternate tally)

TS:
6 – D. Swan (6), J. Watson (5), J. Bartel (4), J. Bolton (3)
5 – A. Goodes (6), M. Boyd (5), B. Gibbs (5), B. Moloney (5), D. Cox (4), M. Murphy (3)

Holey:
6 – D. Swan (6), A. Goodes (5)
5 – J. Watson (6), M. Boyd (5), B. Gibbs (5), B. Moloney (5)