On the most recent episode of our official Geelong Cats podcast To the Final Bell, panellists Scott Gullan and Cameron Ling took the bye week as a chance to take stock and rank who they think will be leading the Carji Greeves medal race. 

While their pick for the medal leader was unanimous, much contention followed. You can listen to the podcast here.

Cameron Ling (Geelong Great and Channel 7 Commentator)

1. Tom Stewart
2. Joel Selwood
3. Gary Ablett
4. Patrick Dangerfield
5. Tom Hawkins

“Selwood’s season is still remarkably consistent. Don’t judge him on his ridiculously high standards. The bloke gets 30 touches and kicks a goal pretty much every week, along with 9000 tackles and inspirational moments.”

 “Gary Ablett – against Melbourne he was best-on, Hawthorn he was pretty much best-on, he’s had 35 and kicked goals in multiple games, so I’ve got him sitting there at three. Geelong only has one player inside the top 20 in the coaches’ voting and that is Gary Ablett at 19th.”

“Tom Hawkins, now has six consecutive games of three goals or more. He has his career best in possessions, career best in inside 50s, career best in so many areas. He has embraced a different way of playing, almost Jack Riewoldt style last year where he is playing a multitude of roles… I think he’s harshly judged.”

“I reckon Mark Blicavs got going a little bit after round three – he’s just slipped to sixth or seventh for me.  I think he’s coming with a bullet but Kelly and Blicavs are just outside the top five.”

Scott Gullan (Herald Sun sports writer) 

1. Tom Stewart
2. Mark Blicavs
3. Joel Selwood
4. Patrick Dangerfield
5. Tim Kelly

“Mark Blicavs has been best player in the country since he went to centre half-back in round three. He’s had about 10 good weeks under his belt.”

“In the order of three, four, five it’s very close, I think it’s half a vote in between.”

“Gary Ablett didn’t play for two weeks. He didn’t get a kick for two others. He’s got a couple of best-ons but it has been 13 rounds. In the Carji if you don’t play it’s hard.”

“Tom Hawkins – in the North Melbourne game I awarded him two votes, I thought he was outststanding. Coaches’ votes – fresh air. They found about 25 other blokes, I fear the people voting on this award aren’t showing Tomahawk love.