Ben Cousins (WC) vs Chris Judd (WC)

[Elite Master]

Many would argue that as awesome as Judd was back in his West Coast days that Cousins was his superior. Lets settle this. Who was better at their peak.

Obviously lets keep the Carlton & Richmond models respectively out of this discussion, as we can all agree that Judd & Cuz were far greater players at the Eagles..

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

At WCE this is what they achieved.

Cousins

6 x All Australian
4 x Best & Fairest
Brownlow
MVP

Judd

2 x All Ausralian
2 x Best & Fairest
Brownlow
MVP

My vote would go to Cousins easily, as I think Judd was/is overrated. You would have to say a guy who achieved 6 All Australians at a club, was a better servant than a guy who only had 2.

During the 05-06 period:

Cousins had 2 x AA, 1 x MVP, 1 x Brownlow, 1 x B&F.

Judd had 1 x AA, 1 x B&F, 1 x NS medal, 1x MVP.

Cousins during that period as well.

 

[Hepps]

If Cousins didn't have his drug issues he'd be up there with Hird, Voss, Buckley and Ricciuto IMO.

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

If Cousins didn't have his drug issues he'd be up there with Hird, Voss, Buckley and Ricciuto IMO.

He is already mate. Sheehan ranked him as the 42nd greatest player to ever play the game a little while ago. Cousins has also achieved more individual accolades by 28, than Hird did in his whole career. Easily up there.

 

[Elite Master]

Sheehan ranked him as the 42nd greatest player to ever play the game a little while ago.

I'm all for rating Cousins there abouts amongst some of the all time great mids, but using Sheehan to support your argument, I mean really...

Who takes that senile clown seriously..

 

[Cold Lion]

Judd at his peak > Cousins at his peak

OP leave it at "their peak" or at least change it from 05-06 to 04-06 if you're going to do it right so HAD can't argue Cousins was better on a technicality.

 

[Hepps]

He is already mate. Sheehan ranked him as the 42nd greatest player to ever play the game a little while ago. Cousins has also achieved more individual accolades by 28, than Hird did in his whole career. Easily up there.

2 Premierships + 1 Norm Smith + 1 Brownlow > 1 Premiership + 1 Brownlow

 

[HyperAgressiveDonk]

2 Premierships + 1 Norm Smith + 1 Brownlow > 1 Premiership + 1 Brownlow

A bit selective, hehe. What about Cousins MVP? And the fact Cousins had 6 All Australians to Hirds 5? They are actually pretty close on accolades, which is remarkable considering Cousins was cut down at 28 when he was in his prime. Both great players.

 

[Tulip]

It's only Cousins' fault that he finished at 28, he was by no means 'cut down'

 

[TheGhostOfJohnBelushi]

Judd at his peak > Cousins at his peak

OP leave it at "their peak" or at least change it from 05-06 to 04-06 if you're going to do it right so HAD can't argue Cousins was better on a technicality.

Hammer on the head there. If assessing by "at their peak/best" then Judd outshines Cousin. He was just a marvel on the football field. Cousins was an amazing player, and overall eclipses Judd in terms of career at West Coast, but Judd's best was up their as some of the best I have ever seen.

 

[BlueJet]

Judds best was better for mine. Seemed to take the game by the scruff of the neck on a more regular basis. Certainly not complaining with the version we have of him now but gee it'd be great to see him back at that level.
That said Cousins was an out and out gun and not out of place in conversations of who the best mid over the last 20 years was.

 

[CHIEF SMACKAHOE]

judds best was on another level, a level that's probably only been reached by a handful of players tbh

 

[Kenny_01]

Judd's best was easily better than Cousins' best.

As a Freo supporter, it was almost scary watching Judd play. So dominant and influential at stoppages and equally as good in space.

 

[Donakebab]

A bit selective, hehe. What about Cousins MVP? And the fact Cousins had 6 All Australians to Hirds 5? They are actually pretty close on accolades, which is remarkable considering Cousins was cut down at 28 when he was in his prime. Both great players.

Hird was cut down as he was coming into his prime by injury after injury. Cousins was cut down towards the end of his prime by one too many crack pipes. Big difference.


Anyway back on topic, Cuz was better over the journey at WC and tbh I think he had a big impact over games while both he and Judd were smashing the comp. It's close, but Cuz for mine.

 

[Monkey King]

Judd for mine. Cousins was a gun player and I miss watching his gut-running, as I'm sure plenty do, but Juddy was the man doing shit you virtually don't see anyone else do. The team had strategies based around him as a player, which shows how good he was; usually it's only the very best who affect a team like this.

 

[willoblue]

Judd by a long way.
At his peak he was the best midfielder I have seen. Cousins wasn't even in the top 10 I have seen.

 

[donbooger]

Judd exploded in 06, he was far better that year then Cousins ever was. So Judd was a better player but Cousins contributed more for longer, your vote could go either way depending on what you value more.

Ill just vote simply for the better player in Judd.

 

[Alexwce]

Genuinely believe that had Cousins not gone wacko and continued at West Coast and finished sometime around now he would go down as one of the best players or the best player ever

Cousins especially in the early 2000's when West Coast struggled was simply superb. Never saw a fairer player on-field he would get belted by opposition and simply get up, throw up and then run again. Would have been 10-12 years old and even I wanted to play just to be along side Cuz.

That being said Judd is a superstar however Cousins was just better

 

[Elite Master]

Genuinely believe that had Cousins not gone wacko and continued at West Coast and finished sometime around now he would go down as one of the best players or the best player ever

Cousins especially in the early 2000's when West Coast struggled was simply superb. Never saw a fairer player on-field he would get belted by opposition and simply get up, throw up and then run again. Would have been 10-12 years old and even I wanted to play just to be along side Cuz.

That being said Judd is a superstar however Cousins was just better

You could perhaps mount a case for "best midfielder" but even that is a stretch since we've been blessed with so many superstars in the game's history. Best player ever though, I'm sorry but not by a long shot.

 

[Donakebab]

You could perhaps mount a case for "best midfielder" but even that is a stretch since we've been blessed with so many superstars in the game's history. Best player ever though, I'm sorry but not by a long shot.

I'm guessing they mean best player ever for West Coast.

 

[September_Glory]

Daniel Kerr was the best.

Nah seriously, Judd changed everything. We built a whole midfield around him and were able to protect Cousins on a HFF because of Judd.

And Kerr doesn't get to be Daniel Kerr (the best 3rd banana ever) without Judd being the main man.

For pure on field skill, Judd. But people need to understand that Cousins, off field, was the face of the club. On field, he was THE cornerstone of our post 90's rebuild. Symbolically, he was the 'Good Son'. Teammates loved him. Arguably no one, bar John Worsfold, has meant more to West Coast than Cousins.

I'ld lean towards Cousins because he inspired as well as played sensational footy whereas Judd only did one of those during his time at West Coast.

Very tough question to answer.

 

[95blues]

Didnt watch enough West Coast games to have as much info as i would like, i do recall however that whenever the Blues played West Coast it was Judd that i was worried about.

 

[DivideandMultiply]

Judd had the best individual season. His 2006 was the best I have ever seen from a midfielder.

I do think Cousins was the better player for WC though. For a period of time he was our club. When Cousins would lift in a match in the mid 2000's, I was always confident of a win.

 

[oscarheel]

If it wasn't for the drug issue Cousins would have been talked about as one of the great midfielder's of the modern era. very underrated imo.

 

[Matera92]

Cousins for his ability to inspire those around him, Judd was a freak but the ability to lift those around you is a very rare quality possessed by very few, Voss, Hird etc.