Geelong's Jimmy Bartel has a couple of tips to punters investing their hard earned on him winning back-to-back Brownlow medals - save their money or back someone else.

With team-mate Gary Ablett sidelined for three weeks with an ankle injury, Bartel has been the subject of a massive betting plunge after a month of eye-catching performances.

On the back of 41 possessions against Adelaide in round 14 followed by four games of more than 30 possessions, Bartel's odds of winning consecutive Brownlow have been slashed from $81 to $3.25 on TAB Sportsbet and he's now equal favourite with Ablett.

While the star midfielder admitted he was playing at the same level as last year, he played down his chances of becoming the seventh player to win back-to-back medals, saying the betting plunge was funny.

"I find it a bit amusing actually," Bartel said.

"I can't see why (they are backing me). I think people should start saving their money or put it on someone else. There's six or seven other blokes who are well ahead.

While Champion Data, the AFL's official statisticians, predict Bartel will win this year's count, the Cats midfielder believed up to half a dozen of his team-mates would take votes off him.

Champion Data's 2008 statistics show Bartel's season is every bit as good as his last, which is all the more impressive considering he has played a variety of roles.

"It's pretty similar (his form compared to last year) but I have to play a number of different roles than I did last year," Bartel said.

"... different positions which I have absolutely enjoyed and it has developed me as a footballer."

Although the Cats are two and a half games clear of second-placed Western Bulldogs, Bartel said the club was determined to maintain its winning form in the last four games before the finals.

"We've got a lot to play for," Bartel said.

"We don't want to lose at all, we love winning, we're pretty competitive people."

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