Judd '05-'06 V Ablett '07-'08

[Claude Balls]

This is indeed an age old topic; however I thought with the time qualification it may prove a little more intersting.

The universal consensus (by universal I mean everyone aside from Carlton fans), seems to be that Ablett is currently a better player than Judd. I certainly believe this. However, amid all the debate of current fortunes, I'm interested to know whether people view Ablett as merely having overtaken Judd, or whether they actually think he has produced better football than Judd's best, circa '04 - '06.

Sacriligeous as it may seem, I actually feel that Judd of '05 - '06 was a fractionally better player than Ablett of '07 - '08. I remember that he was widely regarded as having the potential to finish his career as the greatest player of all time, on the condition that the rest of his career panned out like the first part. It seems to me now that people forget that.

 

[__aria__]

Judd by a fair way I think. His 2007 aswell.

 

[go the dogs]

I think Judd still has Ablett covered at the present time, gets alot more contested ball then Ablett. Ablett gets alot of cheap kicks running around players who have taken a mark to get the easy kicks still is a very good player but have Judd ahead

 

[Claude Balls]

Judd by a fair way I think. His 2007 aswell.

Really? I understand he was brilliant for the first 8 or 9 weeks, polling 15 or so Brownlow votes... but he didn't poll a single vote from that point on, once he got injured!

 

[__aria__]

correct

 

[tigers_of_old_08]

Judd before he got injured, easily.

IMO Abletts '08 season overall wasnt as good as his '07 either.

 

[Quinz]

Sacriligeous as it may seem, I actually feel that Judd of '05 - '06 was a fractionally better player than Ablett of '07 - '08. I remember that he was widely regarded as having the potential to finish his career as the greatest player of all time, on the condition that the rest of his career panned out like the first part. It seems to me now that people forget that.

Having watched Judd play for my team for the majority of his career I am certainly biased towards him, seeing him live every second week, he was an incredible player. Still is, although he is still recovering from injury and hasn't got his outside game back.

I agree with you, I think Ablett has been great in the last two years, but Judd's period of 04-07 (up until he got injured) was better than Ablett has shown over the past two years. Not by a long way, but certainly he has been better IMO.

We are very quck to move on and forget how good players were even a few seasons ago, which is why current performances hold more weight. But Judd at his peak was just unstoppable, he had the inside game (AFL leader in clearances and contested possessions), plus he kicked more than a goal a game.

He was the complete package, and he was so good that even this year wasn't seen as the best year for him although he was named AA captain. He had to rework his game slightly with a new midfield and worked more on contested possessions than before.

 

[Neville Bartos]

Ablett's Grand Final effort was enough for me. Judd was good when he won his Norm Smith, but I thought Ablett was brilliant (Hodge was still better though)...

They're both awesome

 

[wce4premiership]

With the question asked it is judd.

But right now ablett by a bit.

 

[Rimraw]

Ablett has only been an ELITE player for the past 2 years. Judd has been for the past 5 - since his Brownlow in '04. Judd was playig at a level superior to what Ablett has shown. Before he got injured, he was regarded as being one of the games best... EVER. Wouldn't be surprised if he wins the Brownlow again this year after fully overcoming his injuries.

 

[alberto_cat]

at this moment, without bias, you'd have to say Ablett is the better player...

but over the span of their careers, Judd has it by a fair margin...

i think Judd's 04/05/06 years were just superb, but if Ablett can go as well in 09 as he did in 08 i think he'll have the wood over Judd from 04/05/06

 

[wce4premiership]

Big nasty everyone watches geelong games. Well I do anyway because i love watching bartel and ablett (hate ling and mooney though) play. To say he's done stuff judd never did just shows you've never seen the best of chris judd. Imo after watching plenty of both, admittedly more of judd since we saw him every weekend and i only get to see geelong every 2nd or 3rd weekend i think judds best was better then abletts. Ablett is great but everyone forgets about judd since this year he has been poor (by his standards, still a deserved AA) while abletts performances are fresh in everyones minds.

 

[Deledio_Judd]

Judd easily

 

[Claude Balls]

Closer than I thought... it seems some people have short memories.

 

[King_Tredrea]

Judd by a mile

 

[Carn Hawkas]

From what i've seen, Ablett's best is better than Judd's best.
Much prefer Watching Ablett play.

 

[oscarheel]

Both are my favourite opposition players.
Judd in his prime was special, but Gary Ablett is something else.

 

[TAYLOR!]

Gary Ablett. Genius.

 

[blblues]

At the current moment Ablett is a superior player. Judd at his best was simply unbelievable however. I think he will lose a lot of votes but because he is now playing for Carlton. There aint alot of love for the blues on this board.

 

[STC]

Judd before he got injured, easily.

IMO Abletts '08 season overall wasnt as good as his '07 either.

Definitely disagree with that, I thought he was definitely better in 08 - certainly more consistent.

 

[Riggy1]

who got the brownlow?
who got a norm smith?
who has the most club best & fairest?
who has made the most all-australian teams?

JUDD!

 

[james_omahoney]

who got the brownlow?
who got a norm smith?
who has the most club best & fairest?
who has made the most all-australian teams?

JUDD!

haha, not disagreeing with Judd, but your logic is horrible

 

[Big Nasty]

who got the brownlow?
who got a norm smith?
who has the most club best & fairest?
who has made the most all-australian teams?

JUDD!

Who got 2 MVP's, which are more respectable than brownlows.

Anyway Ablett only lost by 2 votes and if he didn't miss those 5 games with injury he would definately have won it.

 

[HIG]

Why Judd '05? He had an average year (despite a decent finals campaign) - he wasn't even All Australian.

Based on those two years for each - Ablett. Two stellar years vs. one.

 

[SELFCONFESDAFLNERD]

Judd......easily. When fit and firing best player in the league.