Hird vs Judd

[Trav 20]

Hird was uncanny with his ability to take a mark when he shouldn't have been able to and get deft touches that made a difference. He and his long sleeves were like a cross between Peter Hudson and Robbie Flower. He regularly impacted games when they were in the balance. He had no left foot, but it didn't seem to matter.

Judd's speed, smarts, strength, decision making and determination are a combination that has few peers in AFL history. Many won't agree, but at their best I put him ahead of Junior as a pure midfielder - but certainly not as prolific. He became more "inside" out of necessity at Carlton, but I'll never forget his West Coast brilliance.

Both great players, but for me it has to be Judd. He was a superstar midfielder. Hird, while a generational player, wasn't a key forward and nor was he in Judd's class as a mid. But don't be perturbed. It's splitting hairs.

 

[Masqualero]

For pure impact on a game, its hard to go past Judd. Pretty biased though... Still strange poll though, very different players.

 

[Monkey King]

Just so we're clear, I didn't shoot Bambi, it was DapperDon .

Roger that! So Dapper's the culprit

 

[Donakebab]

Hird was uncanny with his ability to take a mark when he shouldn't have been able to and get deft touches that made a difference. He and his long sleeves were like a cross between Peter Hudson and Robbie Flower. He regularly impacted games when they were in the balance. He had no left foot, but it didn't seem to matter.

Judd's speed, smarts, strength, decision making and determination are a combination that has few peers in AFL history. Many won't agree, but at their best I put him ahead of Junior as a pure midfielder - but certainly not as prolific. He became more "inside" out of necessity at Carlton, but I'll never forget his West Coast brilliance.

Both great players, but for me it has to be Judd. He was a superstar midfielder. Hird, while a generational player, wasn't a key forward and nor was he in Judd's class as a mid. But don't be perturbed. It's splitting hairs.

Hird won a Brownlow playing at CHF and would have continued to play as a roaming CHF if it wasn't for the foot injury. He became a mercurial midfielder out of necessity. The fact that he dominated as both a key forward and as a midfielder places him above Judd.

With people throwing up the whole West Coast Judd before injury, then surely it's only fair to do the same with Hird regarding his foot and the facial fractures.

 

[Trav 20]

Hird won a Brownlow playing at CHF and would have continued to play as a roaming CHF if it wasn't for the foot injury. He became a mercurial midfielder out of necessity. The fact that he dominated as both a key forward and as a midfielder places him above Judd.

With people throwing up the whole West Coast Judd before injury, then surely it's only fair to do the same with Hird regarding his foot and the facial fractures.

I've never thought of Hird as a key forward, but I accept what you say, although 39 goals from 24 games wasn't a huge return.

Scott Lucas was just starting out, so he would have been able to free up Hird to be more of a utility.

 

[Donakebab]

I've never thought of Hird as a key forward, but I accept what you say, although 39 goals from 24 games wasn't a huge return.

Scott Lucas was just starting out, so he would have been able to free up Hird to be more of a utility.

Good enough return to win a Brownlow, AA selection, B&F and clubs leading goal scorer in a side that was one point away from a Grand Final. His career started as a KPF and if it wasn't for the foot he would have continued that way. After the fracture he had to slim down and adjust how he played the game to prevent doing it again.

Also Lucas could have played as a defender. He was more than capable down there as he proved winning one of his B&F's there.