Gold Coast SUNS skipper Gary Ablett has been crowned by AFL fans as the competitions best player.
Over 27,000 fans took part in the Herald Sun/Seven News Footy Fans Survey. A staggering 49.4% of fans voted Ablett the competitions best, smashing his closest rivals Scott Pendlebury (10.6%) and Lance Franklin (8.8%).
The GC SUNS skipper said he was flattered by the result, although the 2009 Brownlow Medallist believed the game has a number of fantastic players.“It’s always nice to be recognised by the fans and it’s humbling that they have voted for me.
We are fortunate that the game has so many great players, some of who have had fantastic seasons do date.
Collingwood’s Scott Pendlebury and Dane Swan have had fantastic years again as have Hawthorn’s Lance Franklin and Sam Mitchell.
The player who I think has taken his game to another level this year is Jobe Watson, his form has been outstanding and it has probably been reflected in the season the Bombers have had so far.”
Ablett, who added the Marcus Ashcroft Medal to his bag of individual honours in Saturday night’s QClash against the Lions, said he thought the GC SUNS had started to play consistent football in recent weeks.
“Looking back, four of our last five weeks have been pretty promising and that has probably coincided with the return of a number of players from injury.
During the middle part of the season where we had been struck badly by injuries we spoke a lot about consistency, and over the last 3 weeks in particular we have seen that. Our challenge is to see that out through the remaining six games of the season, we can achieve a lot in that time especially against some of the best sides in game at the moment,” Ablett said.
The GC SUNS will take on the ladder leading Sydney Swans this Saturday night at Metricon Stadium, and will play the second and third placed Crows and Hawks in the coming weeks..jpg)
Herald Sun/Seven News Footy Fans Survey Best Player
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast SUNS) 49.4%
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 10.6%
Lance Franklin (Hawthorn) 8.8%
Jobe Watson (Essendon) 4.1%
Dane Swan (Collingwood) 4%
Gary Ablett’s Individual Playing Honours
Brownlow Medal
2008 – 3rd
2009 – 1st
2010 – 2nd
Best & Fairest
Geelong
2005 – 3rd
2006 – 3rd
2007 – 1st
2008 – 2nd
2009 – 1st
2010 – 2nd
Gold Coast SUNS
2011 – 1st
All-Australian
2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011 (Captain)
AFLPA MVP
2007, 2008, 2009
AFLCA Player of the Year
2007, 2008, 2009
Click here for photo galleryWho would you vote number one in the AFL? Leave your comments below.
