The star midfielder polled three votes in five games to sit on 17 votes after 11 rounds – three clear of Adelaide star Patrick Dangerfield.
Dangerfield was the surprise poller at Crown Palladium, awarded the maximum three votes in four games to sit on 14 votes at the halfway point.
Port Adelaide captain Travis Boak also made a fast start to sit in third position on 12 votes, ahead of Collingwood midfielder Dayne Beams, Sydney Swans onballer Josh Kennedy and West Coast's Matt Priddis, all on 11 votes.
Kennedy polled votes in six games and is expected to enjoy a purple patch in the second half of the season.
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Well-backed Port Adelaide star Robbie Gray (four votes) and Hawthorn's Jordan Lewis (two) were off the pace, with Lewis polling his first votes in round 10.
Sydney Swans star Lance Franklin, who enjoyed an outstanding end to the season, also started slowly, sitting on six votes after round 11.
Ablett polled three votes in the opening round of the season, as he did in 2009 and 2013 before going on to win the Brownlow Medal in those seasons.
Selwood also polled three votes to make a perfect start, and he went on to notch votes in each of his first four games.
Port Adelaide speedster Matt White was announced as the winner of goal of the year for his exhilarating running goal against his former club Richmond in round 17.
Ineligible Fremantle midfielder Nat Fyfe sat on six votes after 11 rounds.
