2009 Brownlow Medal
| 2009 Brownlow Medal | |
|---|---|
| Date | 21 September |
| Location | Crown Palladium |
| Hosted by | Sandy Roberts |
| Winner |
Gary Ablett, Jr. (Geelong) 30 votes |
| Television/radio coverage | |
| Network | Seven Network |
The 2008 Brownlow Medal was the 82nd year the award was presented to the player adjudged the fairest and best player during the Australian Football League (AFL) home and away season.Gary Ablett of the Geelong Football Club won the medal by polling thirty votes during the 2009 AFL season.
Ablett won the award with thirty votes, eight votes ahead of 2004 medal winner, Chris Judd. It was Ablett's first Brownlow, despite winning many other awards in the previous few years and being the Brownlow pre-count favourite for the previous three years. It was the second time in three years that a player from Geelong won the Brownlow Medal.
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 best on ground performance in round 20 confirmed his victory as his 26 votes was seven votes ahead of Judd, Brown and Hayes 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.
I can at least say I've done something he hasn't done... I've always said I'd be happy to be half as good. He's the best player to play the game, in my opinion.
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 are read and tallied on the evening.
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