Opinion Peak Judd was the best from any midfielder this century

[Bunk Moreland]

Judd - higher peak
Ablett Jr - longer peak

Correct.

Peak Judd was out of this world, I’ve never seen a better midfielder.

That ability to be able to win the ball in the thick of a pack, then escape with it in your possession, and be up to top speed in a few steps and away as one of the fastest players in the league… it was devastating.

 

[Bunk Moreland]

Don't need the word 'peak' in the title and it's still true.

He turned two different versions of himself into two different best players in the game, which is just remarkable. I doubt there's ever been a player to do that. He was the best in the game for years at WC as a burst goalkicking mid. And then he was the best player in the game, albeit for a shorter period, as a contested ball pig at Carlton. A truly incredible footballer.

He's 2nd only to Franklin after 2000 for me.

West Coast Judd was Cassius Clay, Carlton Judd was Ali.

 

[lumpinee]

And Goodes/Buckley should hand over their 2003 medal to Judd

yur kidding right ? Buckleys Collingwoods best ever according to most and probably the most elite user of the ball possibly ever and Goodes played every
position except for FB and won 2 charlies legit,not gifted one by Demitriou for licking Pratts jewel bag

 

[lumpinee]

To be fair, Swan took Juddy's the year after, so turned out ok.

yeah,thats wot i been told by pies supporters as well

 

[SBYM]

I think his induction into the HoF finally puts to bed the question of who won the Judd/Kennedy trade.

 

[Sky]

So where would you put WC Judd relative to those 3?

Judd at the Eagles is better than all 3. Judd at Carlton is about level with them all or if you want them ranked then Fyfe, Dusty, Judd, Danger

 

[Ambrosia]

Scary thing about Judd is he came into the league with dud shoulders. Imagine if he was able to lift his arms above his head

 

[Yippy Yi Yeo]

The first three you mentioned are as good as anyone but they didn’t bat as deep as Brisbane or Geelong

Chuck arguably the goat ruckman in cox, norm Smith medallist embley, and Tyson stenglein in, and they absolutely did

 

[PhatBoy]

Chuck arguably the goat ruckman in cox, norm Smith medallist embley, and Tyson stenglein in, and they absolutely did

Ottens - not as good as cox but you could argue as a finals player he was every bit as good
Ablett - 8 time all Australian
Bartel - Brownlow medallist
Corey - 2 time all Australian
Enright won his first AA as part of the mid field
James Kelly - All Australian
Selwood - 5 times all Australian
Johnson and Chapman - two multiple all Australians rotating through it
Ling - all Australian.

Don’t think they batted as deep

 

[Dan]

At West Coast yes.....hard to argue against.

 

[eaglespremiers]

Some of his long range goals were absolutely unbelievable. And he did it regularly at the Eagles.
Without peer

 

[JackFlash]

Ablett jr's season of 2014 was something we had never seen before. Playing in a 12th placed team until suffering a season-ending shoulder injury in round 16, he still polled 22 Brownlow votes, losing by just four! Ablett jr is the greatest midfielder this century.

 

[Rich01]

OP is correct. Peak Judd… 2004, 2006… possibly (probably?) the best midfielder the game has seen.

From 07 onwards injury got him and he was just normal “great” level Thats all some people saw or remember of him. But those first five years at WC… holy sh*t.

The midfield group during his time at the Eagles was phenomenal. Allowed him to play a destructive attacking midfield role to perfection.

 

[juddy_Like]

Peak Judd was like playing FIFA on semi-pro.

He could basically do anything he wanted or somehow bail himself out by using the ‘sprint’ button which nobody else seemed to have.

 

[Lach72]

Fyfe’s first half of his first Brownlow year is probably equal to Judd’s peak, but didn’t do it for long enough…Ablett better over time, but that 3 year burst from Judd was amazing

 

[Sweet Jesus]

The first three you mentioned are as good as anyone but they didn’t bat as deep as Brisbane or Geelong

If we're talking about centre square combinations, that includes ruckmen. And WC have Brisbane and Geelong covered when you frame it like that.

Ottens - not as good as cox but you could argue as a finals player he was every bit as good

Give me a spell.

Cox, Judd, Cousins, Kerr. A ruckman and 3 mids who start in the centre square. WC win. There's no debate.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Judd in 2005 was phenomenal, however his disposal was never elite.

I think this is another oversold criticism. He made good decisions and hit targets. For a guy who spent so much of his time as a gun inside midfielder, critcism of his disposal doesn't really stand up.

 

[raffrox]

Peak WC Judd is the most feared player I've ever seen. Completely unstoppable.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

West Coast Judd is the best footballer of the modern era. Judd the bloke, Judd the media figure, Judd the Carlton player, Judd the Carlton board member, Juddchella, have all served to obscure and diminish the pure greatness of the first 130-odd games of his career.

I reckon you could still make the case for Franklin.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

I think his induction into the HoF finally puts to bed the question of who won the Judd/Kennedy trade.

Don't forget Chris Masten.

 

[imadodgyumpire]

I'm on the West Coast Judd being the best player ever boat.

GAJ is a beneficiary of Judd setting an example.

 

[Farm Boy]

Ablett jr is by far the best midfielder I have ever seen. He was just levels above. Not just a level - but many levels above.


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[PhatBoy]

If we're talking about centre square combinations, that includes ruckmen. And WC have Brisbane and Geelong covered when you frame it like that.

Give me a spell.

Cox, Judd, Cousins, Kerr. A ruckman and 3 mids who start in the centre square. WC win. There's no debate.

Yeah that certainly settled the depth debate. Enjoy.

 

[Sweet Jesus]

Yeah that certainly settled the depth debate. Enjoy.

The "depth debate"? Geelong were a better side overall, no question.

But if you look at who starts in the centre square, that debate doesn't exist.

It's Cox, Judd, Cousins, Kerr. Cox is the tiebreaker.

 

[TP86]

I reckon you could still make the case for Franklin.

Judd had a consistency and inevitability that Franklin never had, or at least didn't have from after the 2008 prelim onward. Franklin 2009-2013 was infuriating at times. I remember in 2012 having a lengthy conversation about how Hawthorn had blown their premiership window and wouldn't capitalise on the list build. The very next weekend Buddy came out and kicked 13. Almost like he knew both he and the club were in a bit of a spiral towards mediocrity. People forget Hawthorn were 4-5 sitting eighth and coming off a 10-goal belting at the hands of Richmond going into that game. As an aside, North laying down to get pounded in that final quarter is still one of the most bizarre things I've ever seen.

Anyway, Judd has a norm smith whereas Franklin's best grand final came in the 2014 smashing. That alone tips it Judd's way.