- Banned
- #1
Chris Judd was inducted into the Hall of Fame this week.
It got my wheels turning. WC are done for the year, after some disgraceful showings, and I'm consigned to bumping my long-running threads.
It made me cast my mind back to Judd's days at WC. That stretch of footy he played from 2004 to midway through 2007 when he did his groin, I reckon that's easily the best 80-game stretch I've seen from any WC player and I reckon it's the best 80-game stretch I've seen from any midfielder. I'd take it over any comparable stretch of peak Ablett or peak Martin. I get it, Ablett played 350 games and longevity counts. Martin played in 3 flags and won 3 Norm Smith medals. These are amazing achievements and you'd probably take their careers over Judd's career.
But I still reckon the quality of football Judd produced in that window at WC was superior to anything I've seen over a comparable stretch. And 80 games is a pretty good sample size. I'm not talking about one great season. I'm talking about 80 games. And I'd back that slice of peak Judd over any other midfielder I've seen.
Also, there's this meme in a lot of the coverage that Judd burst onto the scene at WC and was awesome purely because of his breakaway pace. And then he had to remake himself as an inside mid at Carlton. This is nonsense. Judd was a dominant inside midfielder and a clearance machine at WC. He was also a fine tackler and kicked a goal a game.
I can see why the contrast is appealing for folks trying to describe his career, but Judd was already a complete midfielder at WC aged 21, 22, 23. He averaged 14 contested possessions a game in 2006, admittedly inflated by playing finals. But that was a career high. He was the best inside midfielder in the comp that year. It was also an equal career-best year for goals.
The point is that he didn't wait until moving to Carlton to develop his inside game. That's one of the dumb lines of "analysis" I've seen following his induction.
And then there's his record in finals. FMD. Martin also a superstar in that regard.
Maybe I'm nostalgic. Maybe I'm in denial. Maybe I've had too many margaritas.
That aside, I assume you all agree with me?
It got my wheels turning. WC are done for the year, after some disgraceful showings, and I'm consigned to bumping my long-running threads.
It made me cast my mind back to Judd's days at WC. That stretch of footy he played from 2004 to midway through 2007 when he did his groin, I reckon that's easily the best 80-game stretch I've seen from any WC player and I reckon it's the best 80-game stretch I've seen from any midfielder. I'd take it over any comparable stretch of peak Ablett or peak Martin. I get it, Ablett played 350 games and longevity counts. Martin played in 3 flags and won 3 Norm Smith medals. These are amazing achievements and you'd probably take their careers over Judd's career.
But I still reckon the quality of football Judd produced in that window at WC was superior to anything I've seen over a comparable stretch. And 80 games is a pretty good sample size. I'm not talking about one great season. I'm talking about 80 games. And I'd back that slice of peak Judd over any other midfielder I've seen.
Also, there's this meme in a lot of the coverage that Judd burst onto the scene at WC and was awesome purely because of his breakaway pace. And then he had to remake himself as an inside mid at Carlton. This is nonsense. Judd was a dominant inside midfielder and a clearance machine at WC. He was also a fine tackler and kicked a goal a game.
I can see why the contrast is appealing for folks trying to describe his career, but Judd was already a complete midfielder at WC aged 21, 22, 23. He averaged 14 contested possessions a game in 2006, admittedly inflated by playing finals. But that was a career high. He was the best inside midfielder in the comp that year. It was also an equal career-best year for goals.
The point is that he didn't wait until moving to Carlton to develop his inside game. That's one of the dumb lines of "analysis" I've seen following his induction.
And then there's his record in finals. FMD. Martin also a superstar in that regard.
Maybe I'm nostalgic. Maybe I'm in denial. Maybe I've had too many margaritas.
That aside, I assume you all agree with me?
Last edited: