2009 Brownlow Medal

Leading vote-getters

• The player was ineligible to win the medal due to suspension by the AFL Tribunal during the year. --

Ablett's victory

Gary Ablett's victory in the 2009 medal followed his sixth-place finish in 2007 and his third-place finish in 2008. In all three years he was the favourite to win the award. Ablett polled in 13 matches, including eight best-on-ground performances. His seventh consecutive best-on-ground performance in round 20 confirmed his victory, as his 26-vote tally at this point was seven votes ahead of Judd, Brown and Hayes, who were all equal on 19 votes with only six votes left from the remaining two rounds. During his acceptance speech, Ablett referred to his father, Australian Football Hall of Fame member Gary Ablett Sr., who, despite being considered one of the best footballers players of all time, never won a Brownlow medal.

Voting procedure

The three field umpires (those umpires who control the flow of the game, as opposed to goal or boundary umpires) confer after each match and award three votes, two votes, and one vote to the players they regard as the best, second-best and third-best in the match, respectively. The votes are kept secret until the awards night, and they are read and tallied on the evening.

Ineligible players

As the medal is awarded to the fairest and best player in the league, those who have been suspended during the season by the AFL Tribunal (or, who avoided suspension only because of a discount for a good record or an early guilty plea) are ineligible to win the award; however, they may still continue to poll votes. Sam Mitchell was the leading ineligible player after being found guilty of striking Adelaide's David Mackay. Chris Judd was suspended for an incident during the finals, but under the rules he remained eligible for both this year's and the 2010 medal, the latter of which he won.

• Jack Anthony ()
• Jason Akermanis ()
• Chance Bateman ()
• Jared Brennan ()
• Dean Brogan ()
• Domenic Cassisi ()
• Joel Corey ()
• Trent Cotchin ()
• Lance Franklin ()
• Michael Gardiner ()
• Barry Hall ()
• Daniel Kerr ()
• Justin Koschitzke ()
• Cameron Ling ()
• Matthew Lloyd ()
• Nick Maxwell ()
• Adam McPhee ()
• Sam Mitchell ()
• Cameron Mooney ()
• Drew Petrie ()
• Jack Riewoldt ()
• Patrick Ryder ()
• Heath Shaw ()
• Kade Simpson ()
• Colin Sylvia ()
  • Source:

Pre-count favourites

Gary Ablett started the year as the favourite to win the medal with both the bookmakers and in a poll of all 16 AFL captains. He remained as favourite throughout the year and entered the count as the leading contender for the third consecutive year. Other leading contenders included Dane Swan and St Kilda midfielders Leigh Montagna, Nick Dal Santo and Lenny Hayes.

Event

For the first time, the red carpet was change to a blue carpet, to celebrate the release of the new Toyota Prius. The carpet arrivals were hosted by Fifi Box and 's Brad Sewell.

The poor behaviour of full-forward and The Footy Show panellisy Brendan Fevola became a talking point of the event. Fevola was heavily intoxicated at the function, including while on camera, and he verbally abused and personally attacked guests, gave his opinion on Brownlow votes, knocked a bottle of beer out of the hand of 2008 Brownlow Medallist Adam Cooney, vomited and urinated on Casino fixtures, simulated sex acts, sexually harassed unsuspecting female guests and bystanders, sang a cappella on stage at the Brownlow afterparty, and fought with a Channel 7 journalist and Crown security staff before being removed from the complex by his teammates.

Fevola was fined $10,000 by the AFL for his actions: he was also fired from the Grand Final edition of The Footy Show and voluntarily withdrew from the Coleman Medallist's lap of honour at the 2009 AFL Grand Final.

References

References

1. (2009). "AFL Record Season Guide 2016". Slattery Media Group.
2. "2009 Brownlow Medal". AFL Tables.
3. Gleeson, Michael. (22 September 2009). "Ablett wins the Brownlow". [[Fairfax Media]].
4. Barrett, Damian. (22 September 2009). "Elite honours lifts grand finale". [[News Corp Australia]].
5. "Brownlow Medal votes". [[News Corp Australia]].
6. Baum, Greg. (22 September 2009). "How about that, Dad? I've won the Brownlow". [[Fairfax Media]].
7. "Brownlow Medal history and winners - AFL.com.au".
8. Lerner, Ronny. (13 September 2009). "Can Ablett break his Brownlow duck?". Sportal.
9. Matthews, Bruce. (8 September 2009). "No Brownlow blues for Chris Judd". [[News Corp Australia]].
10. (2010). "AFL Record: Season Guide 2010". G. Slattery.
11. Clarke, Tim. (11 March 2009). "Punter could win $25,000 with a Cousins Brownlow". [[Fairfax Media]].
12. Tugwell, Nikki. (20 March 2009). "Rivan AFL captains say Sydney Swans will not make finals". [[News Corp Australia]].
13. Warner, Michael. (21 September 2009). "It's your time to win Brownlow, Gary Ablett". [[News Corp Australia]].
14. Clark, John. (21 September 2009). "Geelong's Gary Ablett will win Brownlow Medal, says Champion Data". [[News Corp Australia]].
15. "Fevola withdraws from lap of honour". [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation]].