Collingwood player Dane Swan is this season’s Brownlow Medalist breaking all polling records in the AFL’s recent history.

Kate O’Hara reports.

TRANSCRIPT

Magpie Dane Swan took out the AFL’s most prestigious award last night, beating favourites Chris Judd and Adam Goodes with a record score of 34.

The mid-fielder finished with the highest tally under the current counting system, and six votes ahead of St Kilda’s Nick Dal Santo.

Hawthorn player Sam Mitchell narrowly missed out on second position, despite polling 30 votes.

He was deemed ineligible after a head-high contact reprimand early in the season.

To the Rugby Union, and Wallabies back-rower Wycliff Palu has been ruled out of the remainder of the World Cup due to a hamstring injury.

He suffered the strain in the Wallabies 67-5 win over the United States, and will be out for six weeks.

The Wallabies are likely to delay naming a replacement until after their final pool fixture against Russia on Saturday.

In soccer, the Brisbane Roar are amping up their training in preparation for the season-opener in early October.

Despite Harry Kewell and Brett Emerton signing with Melbourne Victory and Sydney FC, the Roar are prepared to defend their 2010 championship win.

Erik Paartalu, Brisbane Roar mid-fielder, “Yeah of coure, you want to test yourself against the best, and no doubt Harry Kewell and the Brett Emerton’s are the best, and Adelaid have recruited well as well. You want to test yourself, and if you can beat these teams it will be a massive feather in our cap.”

The Roar kick off the season at Suncorp Stadium on October 8, meeting their championship opponents, the Central Coast Mariners.

Kate O’Hara, QUT News.