Gold Coast captain Gary Ablett a red-hot favourite to win Brownlow Medal

FOOTY stars past and present, bookies and armchair experts all agree Gary Ablett is the man to beat at the Brownlow Medal award ­ceremony.

FOOTY stars past and present, bookies and armchair experts all agree Gary Ablett is the man to beat at the Brownlow Medal award ­ceremony.

But while the Gold Coast skipper is the people's favourite to take home his second Brownlow, all agree the count is set to be close.

While players, their partners and VIP guests put the finishing touches on their attire for the black tie ceremony at Crown, bookies installed Ablett as the runaway favourite for the game's highest individual honour.

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Late on Sunday Ablett had eased to $1.65 favourite with the TAB after starting the season at $9.

Geelong captain Joel Selwood had drifted from $3.50 on Friday to $4.50, and second favourite.

girlfriend

But TAB spokesman Trent Langskaill said money continued to flow for perennial late contender Sam Mitchell who had odds of $21 at the end of the home and away season, $7 on Friday and $5 last night.

"The way the betting is looking, Mitchell might be the second favourite by the time the count starts,'' he said.

Hawthorn premiership hero and 1986 Brownlow medallist Robert DiPierdomenico predicted Selwood, Western Bulldog Ryan Griffen, Mitchell and teammate Luke Hodge would be in the mix.

"But you can't go past Gary can you?'' he said.

"He's been a marvel up there, they've won a lot more games this year and I think he will win it from Mitchell and Ryan Griffen.''

But "Dipper" said nothing could be taken for granted on Brownlow night, with some of the greats of the game never winning the award despite being hot favourites.

"Who knows who wins the Brownlow because you've got to be the umpire's friend,'' ­DiPierdomenico said.

Richmond captain Trent Cotchin predicted troubled ­Tiger Dustin Martin would poll well and said Mitchell, Collingwood's Scott Pendlebury and Selwood would also be competitive.

But he said it was hard to go past the little master.

"I've said Gary all year, he's probably my favourite player, so I'll stick with him,'' he said.

"But I think it will be close.''

Collingwood star Dane Swan's girlfriend Taylor ­Wilson will make her sixth ­appearance at the Brownlow Medal count.

Taylor Wilson

"It's a little bit boring, but it's a great night for the players and for the girls to get dressed up,'' Wilson said.

"Of course when Dane won it was special, and it's always nice to sit with teammates and celebrate the season."

Wilson is expected to wear a white dress by bridal couturier Helen Manuell.

"It's amazing to be given these dresses - most of the girls are lucky to have these designers helping out,'' Wilson said.

Manuell is also dressing ­Elise Swallow, wife of North Melbourne captain Andrew Swallow, and Nicole Petrie, wife of North Melbourne star Drew Petrie.

Collingwood captain Nick Maxwell, Western Bulldogs big man Will Minson and Gold Coast Suns ruckman Zac Smith have been nominated for the Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award, which will be presented at tonight's Brownlow ceremony.

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