Ablett hopes for Selwood Brownlow

Reigning AFL Brownlow Medallist Gary Ablett hopes to share the award next Monday night with former teammate Joel Selwood.

Ablett was a strong favourite to win his third Brownlow until round 16, when he suffered his season-ending shoulder injury.

With the Gold Coast captain only playing 15 rounds, it has brought him back to the field in what is now considered a wide-open count.

Selwood has now taken over from Ablett in the Brownlow betting as the main favourite.

The Geelong captain was named All-Australian skipper on Monday night, with Ablett also named in the team.

It is Ablett’s eighth-straight All-Australian selection, a record streak.

The pair played in the 2007 and ’09 Geelong premiership teams before Ablett moved to Gold Coast.

“There are so many guys who have had consistent seasons and could potentially win it,” Ablett said.

“I’d really love to see Joel get up and win one.

“He’s had such a great career, he’s a ripper footy player and a ripper guy.

“He deserves one … I’m hoping for a draw.”

Ablett became noticeably nervous towards the end of last year’s Brownlow count before he was confirmed the winner.

But the ace onballer said he would not think too much about his chances before the night.

“I never get too nervous going in,” he said.

“I try to go in with no expectations.

“It’s one of those things you can’t control.

“I’m sure if it gets towards the end of the count and it’s close, I will get a little nervous like I was last year.”

Likewise, Ablett is not thinking about the potential moniker of “triple Brownlow Medallist”, which only four other players have achieved.

“If you think of it like that, then you go into the night and you don’t win, you come out really disappointed,” he said.

“I just go in with no expectations.

“The way I’ve always looked at is football’s just a game, as much as I love it.

“The individual awards don’t define you as a person.”

The fact that Ablett was a unanimous All-Australian selection despite missing so many games shows he is certain to poll well again.

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