The other Cat wins Brownlow
Bartel polled 29 votes, seven clear of Brisbane’s Simon Black and Brent Harvey from the Kangaroos. Eagles midfielder Daniel Kerr also polled 22 but was ineligible.
Hawthorn’s Sam Mitchell polled 21 votes, with Ablett picking up 20.
Bartel and Ablett sat next to each other, as the cameras focussed in the on the pair in the latter rounds. “We have been having a bit of a laugh throughout the night. I really hoped he would do well tonight and he did well. I definitely saw him up here instead of myself.”
Bartel did not have a glamourous date hanging off his arm, with Geelong VFL player Tim Callan his ‘partner’ for the evening. Bartel’s girlfriend lives in Denmark.
“I don’t think she knows what the Grand Final is,” Bartel said.
It’s Geelong’s first win in the medal since Paul Couch in 1989.
A monumental upset was brewing when 2002 winner Black jumped to a surprising lead. Lions teammate Jonathan Brown was expected to be Brisbane’s only challenger, however Black led for a good portion of the count.
2004 winner Chris Judd polled in each of the opening eight games to set a new record, however he wouldn’t improve on his 16 votes for the remainder of the evening.
Final Standings
J. Bartel (Gee) 29
S. Black (Bri) 22
B. Harvey (Kan) 22
* B. Kerr (WCE) 22
S.Mitchell (Haw) 21
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