In the end it was the umps who got it right for a change, with arguably the two best performers emerging victorious.

After half an hour of gushing interviews with the catwalk contenders (all that meat and no potatoes), where you could almost feel the invisible claws between interviewer and interviewee, interspersed with a comedian dropping names at will with well rehearsed one liners, the show got down to business and developed into a polished presentation, culminating in a nail biting finish, with the last votes deciding the winner, obviously stage managed but nonetheless effective.

Along the way we were impressed with the variety of beverages Fev was knocking back,  Aker’s table hopping, and most impressively, the ear licking capabilities of Travis Johnstone. Then again he was at the Melbourne table.  I also noticed that whatever we feel about Scott McLaren’s umpiring abilities, he had impeccable taste in table companions.

For Fremantle supporters, there wasn’t a lot of joy.  But with the season we had with the umps, that was no surprise.  We were reminded of the season that Josh had, with his forward showing early, Pav made a spurt in the middle of the season, but our players generally didn’t get the recognition afforded to some other clubs on the night.  I obviously saw a different Belly than they did, as well as Johnno and Sandi.

The Wet Toasters were hailing Judd, and who could blame them after the love child relationship he had with the umps re frees all season as well as the media, but it was fitting that Booze Bus Ben, unnoticed all night, emerged from obscurity to pinch votes off the superstar at crunch time, paving the way for the Goode guy to take top honours, with West second, but thankfully not West Coast. Unfortunate for a real down to earth hard working star of the game in Scott West to play a minor role again, but geez, how could you begrudge the bloke who won it.  What an ornament to the game, an ambassador to his race, an unassuming nice guy Adam Goodes is.