WHAT'S THIS? Someone must have made a mistake. They've invited Josh Kennedy - the Swan, not the Eagle who's a fashionable key forward - to the Brownlow count. There's no point. He's never won a vote in his career.

That's right. Kennedy last year finished third in the Sydney Swans' best and fairest award but his performances weren't good enough to earn a Brownlow vote. Not one. He must be umpire poison, not that it's deterred him from hoping that he might get a sneaky vote or two this year.

"The boys might give me some stick if I go to the Brownlow and still don't get a vote," he told afl.com.au. "I've got high hopes of getting off the mark."

When pressed on just when he might break his duck, Kennedy nominated the Port Adelaide game in round eight, which the Swans won, or the Geelong game in round four and the Carlton game in round six, which they lost.

"My best games have been when we've lost," he said.

Besides terrible timing, it's likely that Kennedy's problem can be put down to aesthetics. Umpires are delicate fellows. They tend to avert their eyes when faced with crash-and-bash in-and-under types. Maybe Kennedy should channel his inner Chris Yarran.

But wait. Even Yarran hasn't earned a vote. The umpires have been so dazzled by his pace and skill that they've forgotten to mark his name on the vote card.

Perhaps this is the year for Yarran. He's taken his general silkiness to the half-back line and it's been a winning move. Put him down for a few votes this year and many in the seasons to come. He's the type to appeal to match officials.

The big banana in this vote-free zone is Ben Hudson, the Bulldogs ruckman who grew a beard late in his career in a futile bid to draw the umpires' attention. Silly man. He moves like a draught horse, and umpires don't do equine.

We wish Old Ben all the best. He's just announced his retirement. He deserves to drive his peculiar cars in his dotage with at least one Brownlow vote to his name.

So that's it. If you're going to cheer for an underdog this year, make it Ben Hudson, the Battler's Prince. Or Josh Kennedy, the good-looking midfielder with the bad-looking game. Or anyone who's failed to earn a vote throughout their career despite their obvious charms.

Here's the top 10.

Josh Kennedy (Sydney Swans)
Justice is nigh. According to the votes given by afl.com.au writers on the Footy Lite app, Kennedy should be rewarded with eight votes, including a best on ground against Port Adelaide. He also deserves twos for the games against the Eagles in round three and the Lions in round 24, plus a one-vote against Richmond in round 12. All these games were victories. His Sydney Swans teammates might have to shut up.

Ben Hudson (Western Bulldogs)
This is terrible. According to Footy Lite, the People's Beard looks like ending his career without a Brownlow vote to his name. What kind of sport is this that doesn't honour its warriors? What do we tell our children when they ask about Old Ben Hudson? Tell them he died game. He just couldn't play it well enough.

Will Minson (Western Bulldogs)
What is it with big guys from the Bulldogs? First the Beard, now Will, the only footballer who can play the cello while talking in eight languages. Footy Lite says Will is not worth a cracker in the votes department this season, but surely he deserves at least a vote after gaining a record 56 hit-outs against Collingwood in round six. Will's tweets are always erudite and entertaining. He needs a social media campaign to make the umpires see sense.

Callan Ward (Western Bulldogs)
Clearly, GWS didn't consult the umpires when they decided to shell out the coin to lure Ward to Sydney. All that money—and he's never even earned a vote! Footy Lite says Ward's drought is about to end, with three votes against Richmond in round eight, two against Adelaide in round 13 and one against Melbourne in round 15. If he still draws a blank after this year, it's time he did the decent thing and paid the umpires off.

Jack Watts (Melbourne)
Hello. Fancy pants No.1 draft pick has failed to earn a vote. Looks like his No.1-ness doesn't impress the umpires one little bit. Watts played a corker off a wing against Richmond in round 14. Footy Lite says he was worth two votes. If he misses out in that game, you'll know there's a vendetta against Melbourne footballers whose name is Jack Watts. It's the only explanation.

Ben Reid (Collingwood)
No sooner had Reid established himself in the Collingwood defence than he played in a premiership. What a dream run, even though it failed to bring him a Brownlow vote. This year his form has been so good that he's earned a spot in the All-Australian team. Footy Lite says he's due to poll against Carlton in round three (two), against Hawthorn in round 15 (three) and against St Kilda in round 21 (one). If he fails this time, you'll know the umpires have confused him with his brother.

Zac Dawson (St Kilda)
The Saints full-back is renowned for doing three things well and one thing stupid, but surely he could have earned at least one Brownlow vote. He's 25. He's been around for a while now. Footy Lite says he's not likely to win a vote against this season, but let's hope it's wrong. The Saints' list needs all the talking-up it can get.

Jason Blake (St Kilda)
Poor bloke. He's 30 and he's never earned a Brownlow vote. He's played in every position on the ground and he's still managed to elude the umpires' gaze. Is he going to break through this year? Not likely. Seems he's a bit of an under-the-radar type. They need to put a satellite dish on his head.

Chris Yarran (Carlton)
Yes, there's no way that Yarran can miss out on Brownlow votes this year. His move to the backline has made him a star. Footy Lite says he's going to poll eight: two against Gold Coast in round two, three against St Kilda in round seven and three against Port Adelaide in round 11. You get the impression it might be the start of something.

Mitch Duncan (Geelong)
Duncan gets a guernsey in this list because he's done the impossible: he's become a member of the Geelong midfield and he's failed to earn a vote. Surely, he can break through this year—although, maybe not. Footy Lite says he'll miss out. He should be made to carry the drinks at training.

The views in this article are those of the author and not necessarily those of the AFL or its clubs