It is football’s night of nights and something the Cats are getting used to being a part of.
 
The Brownlow medal, awarded by the umpires to the game’s fairest and best player, is the pinnacle of end of year awards. And this year the Cats have one of the favourites, captain Joel Selwood.
 
The Cats have won three Brownlow’s in the last 25 years with Paul Couch (1989), Jimmy Bartel (2007) and Gary Ablett Jnr (2009) all saluting.
 
Ironically the man who is standing in the way of Selwood and the Brownlow is Ablett.
 
But we believe there is six reasons that Joel Selwood should be the 2013 Brownlow medallist.
 
Awards
Selwood has already begun racking up the accolades. AFLPA Best Captain, AFLPA most courageous player, All Australian midfielder, All Australian captain and third in the AFLCA award shows Selwood is having a year to remember.
 
Goals
Selwood has had his most productive year on the scoreboard for the Cats kicking 28 goals during the season including two bags of four, two of three and three of two. Interestingly Ablett also kicked 28 goals for the season.        
 
Umpires like how he plays
Selwood is admired for his attack on the ball and the proof is in his free kick for this year. Often the last off the bottom of the pack, Selwood has registered 62 free kicks for during the home and away season, nearly 30 more than the next most.
 
Has polled well since 2008
Since bursting onto the scene in 2007 Selwood has been a perennial vote gatherer. Selwood has never received less than 14 votes in a season and has been as high as 21 in 2010.
 
Team performance
Since 1999 only one team has produced a Brownlow medallist after finishing outside the top 8 with Jobe Watson winning last season despite his team finishing 11th. Doesn’t bode well for Ablett.
 
Is the Cats standout midfielder
But perhaps the biggest indicator for Selwood’s chances is the lack of vote takers amongst his teammates. The Cats are an even team across the field which means they don’t rely on one or two players to standout. This means Selwood’s incredible year may be even more eye grabbing.