Chris Judd wins second Brownlow Medal by four votes

UPDATE 10.40PM: CHRIS Judd has won his second Brownlow Medal, holding out medal favourites Gary Ablett and Dane Swan.

UPDATE 10.40PM: CHRIS Judd has won his second Brownlow Medal, holding out medal favourites Gary Ablett and Dane Swan.

The 2004 winner polled three votes an incredible eight times throughout the count, including a five-round stretch from rounds 4 to 8.

Ablett, the 2009 winner, polled consistently throughout the evening but came up just short with 26 votes.

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Swan was a massive favourite before the count but failed to fire in the first 11 rounds before polling 16 votes in the second half of the season to finish third on 24 votes.

Judd becomes the 13th player to win two Brownlow Medals, and his 30 votes equals the 30 he received in 2004.

FINAL BROWNLOW STANDINGS

30 - Chris Judd (Carlton)
26 - Gary Ablett (Geelong)
24 - Dane Swan (Collingwood)
21 - Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood)
21 - Joel Selwood (Geelong)
20 - Matthew Boyd (Western Bulldogs)
20 - Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
19 - Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
16 - Travis Boak (Port Adelaide)
16 - Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
16 - Leigh Montagna (St Kilda)
16 - Jobe Watson (Essendon)

UPDATE 10.30PM: CHRIS Judd is assured of a second Brownlow Medal with two rounds remaining.

Judd polled another three-vote game in Round 20 to move to 29 votes and an unbeatable lead.

The best Swan (23 votes) can now hope for is to equal the Carlton captain with two best-on-grounds in the final two rounds, though that is unlikely, given a mediocre performance in Round 21.

UPDATE 10.20PM: JUST two votes separate Chris Judd and Dane Swan with four rounds to go.

Swan has polled votes in every game from rounds 12 to 18 to sit in second place on 21 votes, while Judd has slowed after Round 14 but is clinging to the lead on 23 votes.

Gary Ablett is still a chance on 19 votes, as he is expected to poll votes in rounds 20 and 22.

Western Bulldog Matthew Boyd has been the surprise mover in the latter rounds, moving into outright fourth place on 18 votes.

UPDATE 10.05PM: BROWNLOW favourite Dane Swan has clawed back ground on Chris Judd with six rounds remaining.

The Collingwood midfielder polled two votes in rounds 15 and 16 to move into outright second place on 18 votes, four behind Judd, who remains on 22.

Aaron Sandilands polled a single vote in Round 15 to move into third, one vote ahead of Geelong's Gary Ablett.

UPDATE 9.35PM: CARLTON captain Chris Judd leads the Brownlow Medal count by eight votes with just eight rounds remaining.

Judd polled another three votes in Round 14 to pull away from Gary Ablett, Aaron Sandilands and Dane Swan (all on 14 votes).

Judd is expected to poll in at least two more games and looks tough to beat, though Swan still looms as a threat after a strong finish to the season.

UPDATE 9.20PM: CHRIS Judd added more votes to his five three-vote performances to increase his Brownlow Medal lead after Round 11.

Aaron Sandilands still sits in second place on 13 votes, while Essendon captain Jobe Watson was a surprise mover from Rounds 7 to 11, moving into equal third place on 12 votes with Gary Ablett.

Medal favourite Dane Swan is expected to make his move over the next six rounds, with every game a three-vote chance.

UPDATE 8.52PM: CARLTON captain Chris Judd polled five three-vote performances in a row from Rounds 4 to 8 to lead the Brownlow Medal count.

After serving a three-match suspension from Rounds 1 to 3, Judd dominated upon his return and now leads the count on 15 votes from Fremantle giant Aaron Sandilands (13 votes), 2009 winner Gary Ablett (nine), Eagles midfielder Matt Priddis (nine) and medal favourite Dane Swan (nine).

It is the first time in Brownlow Medal history that a player has been best-on-ground in five consecutive games.

UPDATE 8.35PM

FREMANTLE ruckman Aaron Sandilands has polled best-on-ground performances in the first four matches of the season.

Expected to poll in just one of the first four rounds, Sandilands shocked the room by polling 12 votes to lead the count from Brisbane Lions Jonathan Brown (nine votes) and Jared Brennan (seven votes, ineligible through suspension).