Ablett scorched the turf against the Sydney Swans at Skilled Stadium on Sunday, collecting 38 disposals, booting two goals and laying seven tackles to destroy Roos’ team for the fourth straight time.
Both Thompson and the Swans’ coach awarded the Brownlow Medallist maximum votes.
Thompson’s nod of approval is not only an endorsement for the little champ but the entire Cats’ midfield group, which the coach was critical of after Ablett’s previous showing against Carlton a fortnight earlier.
That day Ablett racked up 33 disposals and, like Sunday, booted two goals and laid seven tackles, earning praise from most observers. However he received just two coaches’ votes as the Cats were soundly beaten.
Ablett’s 10-vote performance against the Swans moves him within five votes of Aaron Sandilands as the leaderboard sees a Fremantle quinella at the top.
Sandilands and his captain Matthew Pavlich each received votes in their side’s superb win at the Gabba despite being upstaged by exciting midfielder Stephen Hill.
Hill was among a band of young guns to leave an impression on coaches across the weekend.
Tom Scully, the round seven NAB Rising Star nominee, and West Coast’s Josh Kennedy also received maximum votes for stellar performances at the weekend, while Collingwood’s Steele Sidebottom gained eight votes for his five-goal display.
Port Adelaide runner Danyle Pearce and Blue Andrew Carrazzo also gained 10 votes in their side’s wins in round seven.
Round 7 votes:
Melbourne v Western Bulldogs
10 Tom Scully (Melb)
7 Daniel Giansiracusa (WB)
4 Jack Grimes (Melb)
4 Ben Hudson (WB)
3 Matthew Bate (Melb)
2 Jack Trengove (Melb)
Essendon v Port Adelaide
10 Danyle Pearce (PA)
7 Dean Brogan (PA)
4 Dom Cassisi (PA)
3 Travis Boak (PA)
3 Dustin Fletcher (Ess)
2 Justin Westhoff (PA)
1 Angus Monfries (Ess)
West Coast v Hawthorn
10 Josh Kennedy (WC)
8 Nic Naitanui (WC)
5 Jarryd Roughead (Haw)
3 Luke Hodge (Haw)
2 Mark LeCras (WC)
1 Dean Cox (WC)
1 Jordan Lewis (Haw)
Collingwood v North Melbourne
8 Steele Sidebottom (Coll)
8 Dane Swan (Coll)
5 Luke Ball (Coll)
3 Heath Shaw (Coll)
3 Alan Didak (Coll)
2 Dale Thomas (Coll)
1 Brent Harvey (NM)
Brisbane Lions v Fremantle
10 Stephen Hill (Frem)
6 Matthew Pavlich (Frem)
5 David Mundy (Frem)
5 Simon Black (BL)
4 Aaron Sandilands (Frem)
Geelong v Sydney Swans
10 Gary Ablett (Geel)
8 Paul Chapman (Geel)
6 James Podsiadly (Geel)
4 Joel Selwood (Geel)
1 Matthew Scarlett (Geel)
1 Andrew Mackie (Geel)
Adelaide v Richmond
8 Andrew McLeod (Adel)
6 Simon Goodwin (Adel)
5 Graham Johncock (Adel)
5 Nathan van Berlo (Adel)
3 Ivan Maric (Adel)
2 Trent Cotchin (Rich)
1 Daniel Jackson (Rich)
St Kilda v Carlton
10 Andrew Carrazzo (Carl)
7 Jordan Russell (Carl)
5 Jeff Garlett (Carl)
5 Chris Judd (Carl)
2 Lenny Hayes (St K)
1 Jarrad Waite (Carl)
LEADERBOARD
38 Aaron Sandilands (Fre)
37 Matthew Pavlich (Fre)
33 Gary Ablett (Geel)
30 Luke Hodge (Haw)
28 Daniel Bradshaw (Syd)
28 Ryan Griffen (WB)
28 Dane Swan (Coll)
27 Jonathan Brown (BL)
25 Chris Judd (Carl)
23 Nic Naitanui (WC)
