He's actually nailed this as good as I think anyone has so far.
Bartel sends Port powerful message
THE big heads at Port Adelaide would have learned a rich lesson watching the Brownlow Medal unfold on Monday night.
Jimmy Bartel was an emphatic winner. To finish seven votes clear after missing the final two games of the year is undeniably the performance of the best player in 2007.
What Port players and supporters should have noticed was the humility and respect with which the Geelong mid-fielder accepted his award. All the right people were thanked, there was no self-serving gloss applied. No bows, no high stepping jigs. A modest man accepted the highest individual award in the AFL.
"I am definitely embarrassed by it at the moment. It is a pretty humbling experience to get your name read out at the Brownlow, let alone win one," Bartel, 23, said.
Here was one classy act. Take note Port Adelaide, success can be achieved without denigrating your opposition. Sportsmanship lives on, just not at Alberton.
With the Brownlow done, the season is hurtling towards the end. Geelong will play Port on Saturday for the premiership. Already Geelong has won a bunch of awards. The club has supplied nine players to the All-Australian team, won the Rising Star award with Joel Selwood and romped home in the VFL grand final.
If it wins the great trophy, then it will have defeated a team that has risen to its peak this past month. Port's chances of adding to its 2004 title cannot be underestimated. The Power is a mix of premiership experience, pace and youth.
source:
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,25197,22482931-12270,00.html
nuff said.