MODERN-DAY great Gary Ablett is a surprise no-show for this year's Brownlow Medal count.
Former winners are always welcome to attend the gala event, but the dual Browlow medallist - who was suspended this season and is ineligible to win it - will not be sharing the night with his Geelong teammates.
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AFL.com.au understands he declined the offer a few weeks ago and it was down to personal choice.
Ablett won the medal in 2009 with Geelong, and in 2013 with Gold Coast. Ablett's teammate Patrick Dangerfield is the favourite to win this year's medal.
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Adelaide
Matt Crouch, Brad Crouch, Rory Laird, Brodie Smith.
Rory Laird at last year's Brownlow with Lucy McArthur
Brisbane
Dayne Zorko, Lachie Neale, Hugh McCluggage, Daniel Rich, Charlie Cameron
Brisbane star Charlie Cameron with partner Sari Jones
Carlton
Sam Docherty, Patrick Cripps, Sam Walsh, Marc Murphy, Ed Curnow
Carlton superstar Patrick Cripps enjoying last year's count
Collingwood
Scott Pendlebury, Jack Crisp, Brodie Grundy, Steele Sidebottom, Adam Treloar
Magpie champion Scott Pendlebury with wife Alex
Essendon
Dyson Heppell, Zach Merrett, Michael Hurley, Dylan Shiel, Jake Stringer
Dyson Heppell and Kate Turner at the 2017 Brownlow
Fremantle
Nat Fyfe, Michael Walters, Brad Hill, David Mundy, Joel Hamling
Nat Fyfe at the 2015 Brownlow Medal with THAT cane
Geelong
Joel Selwood, Tim Kelly, Mark Blicavs, Tom Hawkins, Tom Stewart, Patrick Dangerfield
Superstar Patrick Dangerfield takes a selfie with fans
Gold Coast
David Swallow, Jarrod Witts, Darcy MacPherson, Brayden Fiorini, Alex Sexton
David Swallow with Georgia Homer
Greater Western Sydney
Callan Ward, Phil Davis, Jeremy Cameron, Toby Greene, Tim Taranto
Phil Davis presenting Mark of the Year at last year's Brownlow
Hawthorn
Ben Stratton, James Worpel, Ricky Henderson, James Sicily, Jaeger O'Meara, Tom Mitchell
Melbourne
Nathan Jones, Max Gawn, Clayton Oliver, Bayley Fritsch, Jack Viney
Jack Viney and Charlotte Ennels
North Melbourne
Shaun Higgins, Robbie Tarrant, Ben Cunnington, Todd Goldstein, Ben Brown
Ben Cunnington with Ben Brown's wife Hester (taking the photo), and partner Belinda
Port Adelaide
Tom Jonas, Ollie Wines, Travis Boak, Darcy Byrne-Jones, Connor Rozee
Tom Jonas and Millie Jordan in 2018
Richmond
Trent Cotchin, Nick Vlastuin, Dion Prestia, Tom Lynch, Dustin Martin
Superstar Tiger Dustin Martin with Bruce McAvaney in 2017
St Kilda
Jarryn Geary, Sebastian Ross, Jack Billings, Jack Steele, Jade Gresham
St Kilda skipper Jarryn Geary and Emma Giles in 2018
Sydney
Josh Kennedy, Dane Rampe, Luke Parker, Tom Papley, Isaac Heeney
Isaac Heeney accepts last year's Mark of the Year award
West Coast
Shannon Hurn, Luke Shuey, Elliot Yeo, Andrew Gaff, Jack Darling
Elliot Yeo in Perth at last year's Brownlow function
Western Bulldogs
Easton Wood, Marcus Bontempelli, Josh Dunkley, Jackson Macrae, Caleb Daniel
Josh Dunkley and Marcus Bontempelli in 2018
