Chris Judd is a superstar, a magnificent footballer and yes, he had a decent season this year. But the most glaring issue with him winning the Brownlow Medal last night is that the award is supposed to go to the “fairest and best” player in the AFL. Unfortunately, on both those fronts, Judd simply wasn’t the right man.
This is not an attack on Judd, by the way. It’s just that, on the Brownlow’s own criteria, his credentials didn’t stack up this year. Most other years they would, but not this year.
Ask yourself: was Judd the best player in the league this season?
The unanimous support for Dane Swan in the lead-up to the Brownlow count would suggest otherwise. Swan was, after all, the hottest Brownlow favourite with the bookies since Shane Crawford in 1999. Swan was the leading possession-winner in the league too, breaking his own possession-winning record in the process.
Seemingly every other award out there – media awards, the AFLPA MVP award – gave player of the year honours to Swan.
Compare this to Judd, who only made the bench of the All-Australian team last week and even that was under somewhat controversial circumstances.
Compare this to Judd, who couldn’t even crack the top five of the AFLPA’s award. Or the top five of the ABC’s player of the year award. Or the top five of The Age’s award.
Compare this to Judd, who ranks behind Swan, Gary Ablett and 11 others in disposals per game this year.
It’s difficult to comprehend, too, the assessment that Swan only had two best on ground performances this season – he polled three votes just twice – while Judd notched up a record five three-vote games in a row.
Did Judd really deserve three votes in Round 6, when Carlton lost to Collingwood by 53 points? On a similar note, Fremantle’s Adam McPhee was lauded for his ability to contain Judd in Round 22, and to a lesser extent in their Round 13 clash as well – so how did Judd poll a combined three votes in those two games?
Again, this is not to say Judd is not a great footballer. He is. Nor does this suggest he doesn’t deserve the term “Brownlow medallist” on his CV. He does. But was he really the best of 2010?
It’s incredibly hard to mount a case for that claim.
Now, even if you do think you could mount a case, ask yourself another question: was Judd the fairest player this season?
Well, in 1996, Corey McKernan was unable to win a Brownlow Medal (despite having enough votes) because during the season he was suspended for tripping. In 1997, Chris Grant couldn’t win it after getting a one-game suspension for striking – despite three field umpires telling the tribunal he had no case to answer.
The words “compare this to Judd” practically write themselves here.
Judd’s elbow on Matthew Pavlich in Round 13, which gave the Freo star five stitches under his eye and a scar still evident last night, was dismissed by the AFL’s match review panel. “Contact was below that required to constitute a reportable offence,” according to the AFL media release.
It was a decision that (quite rightly) caused plenty of outrage. Mike Sheahan labelled the panel’s explanation “extremely difficult to rationalise.”
It mightn’t have been the most mindboggling match review panel decision this year (let us not forget Steven Baker that easily), but it would take a brave man to suggest it wasn’t close. Judd should have been suspended for his clash with Pavlich.
Another argument that was being thrown about last night was that Judd did, in fact, miss games through suspension. The famous eye gouge incident from last year’s finals series caused him to miss the first three games of this season.
While this argument obviously is a little more flimsy than the one that surrounds the Pavlich incident, as it relates to an event that did not happen this year, it hardly reinforces Judd’s credentials as one of the fairer players.
The eyebrows that have already been raised after last night’s result cannot help the Brownlow’s credibility.
If more results end up like the one we got last night, the popularity of rival awards – such as the AFLPA’s MVP award, which is generally spot on – will only increase.
Right now, it’s a prospect that shouldn’t be dismissed.
Stephen
Guest
Carey had a problem with the "fairness" criterion, though.
FootyNut
Guest
I think everyone who is harping on about Swan and Ablett having votes taken from them by teammates and Judd not, are missing the fact that every single week Chris Judd took to the field in 2010, he was competing against 43 players for Brownlow votes. 21 from his own team (and granted yes his teammates didn't take notes from him) but also 22 players from the oposition team. So your arguements just don't hold any weight. The umpires clearly saw Judd as the best player on the ground (not just for Carlton) in those games where he polled 3 votes. Chris Judd is a super star and he and Gary Ablett remain the two best players in the league (Brownlow or not). And no, I'm not a Carlton fan, just know a champion footballer when I see one play.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
For every great player who has never won the Brownlow, there is probably two who has. Bunton, Skilton, Reynolds, Stewart, Harvey, Lockett, Williams, Warne-Smith, Judd, Ablett. Those are just ten great players to have won the Brownlow. I don't think you can compare the Brownlow to the Grammys at all. The Brownlow is much more prestigious!
amazonfan
Roar Guru
"Ask yourself: was Judd the best player in the league this season?" I think he was a candidate. Why was Swan automatically the best player? "The unanimous support for Dane Swan in the lead-up to the Brownlow count would suggest otherwise. Swan was, after all, the hottest Brownlow favourite with the bookies since Shane Crawford in 1999. Swan was the leading possession-winner in the league too, breaking his own possession-winning record in the process." How many possessions you get is irrelevent. It's what you do with them that matters, and IMO Judd did more with his than with Swan's. As for being a favourite with the bookies, how is this evidence of his being the best player of the year? "Seemingly every other award out there – media awards, the AFLPA MVP award – gave player of the year honours to Swan." Not all did. One station (3AW I believe) gave it to Judd. But this does not prove that Swan was the best player of the year. Many would argue that Ablett or Hodge or Hayes were the best. Some would argue that Judd was the best. Personally, I'm not sure. I do however think that there is a habbit to declare X to be the best player because Z said so. "Compare this to Judd, who only made the bench of the All-Australian team last week and even that was under somewhat controversial circumstances." Yes, however considering that Hayes didn't even make the team (and Buddy made it instead of Brad Green), I don't think that the AA team should be considered the final word. "Compare this to Judd, who couldn’t even crack the top five of the AFLPA’s award. Or the top five of the ABC’s player of the year award. Or the top five of The Age’s award." So players and journalists are automatically more knowledgable than the umpires? Anyway, as I said before, he did win the 3AW award, so it's not as if the umpires were alone. "Compare this to Judd, who ranks behind Swan, Gary Ablett and 11 others in disposals per game this year." I consider disposals to be one of the most irrelevent statistics in football. Judd has never been a high possession winner (I don't think he's ever averaged 30 disposals in a season) but what others do with 30, he can do with 20. The fact that Swan led the possessions count is irrelevent IMO. Scott West did so for many years, but I don't think he was ever the best player of the year. "It’s difficult to comprehend, too, the assessment that Swan only had two best on ground performances this season – he polled three votes just twice – while Judd notched up a record five three-vote games in a row." It actually speaks to the depth of Collingwood's list. They didn't need Swan to play well or to be BOG to win; Carlton however are unlikely to win if Judd does not fire. "Now, even if you do think you could mount a case, ask yourself another question: was Judd the fairest player this season?" This isn't the umpire's fault. They give votes according to whom they believe deserves it. It's up to the match review panel to determine someone's fairness. "Judd should have been suspended for his clash with Pavlich." I don't disagree, but it has nothing to do with the umpires. You can say it's the system, but the umpires can only award votes, they don't determine who's fair or not. Furthermore, there didn't seem to be much complaints regarding Judd's fairness coming into the Brownlow. There were when the Pavlich incident happened, but not so much towards the end of the year. Until now. "While this argument obviously is a little more flimsy than the one that surrounds the Pavlich incident, as it relates to an event that did not happen this year, it hardly reinforces Judd’s credentials as one of the fairer players." I think he's relatively fair. He's no saint, but I don't think he's a thug or anything. Certainly, he's fair under Brownlow rules. "Yhe eyebrows that have already been raised after last night’s result cannot help the Brownlow’s credibility." Why? As far as I can see, it's credibility is absolute. If people are unhappy, they should take it up with the match review panel, but the Brownlow? I don't think it has anything to worry about. "If more results end up like the one we got last night, the popularity of rival awards – such as the AFLPA’s MVP award, which is generally spot on – will only increase." I don't think that they will ever challenge the Brownlow. The AFLPA's MVP is impressive, but I don't think it's anywhere near as prestigious as the Brownlow, and you can bet that Swan feels the same. "Right now, it’s a prospect that shouldn’t be dismissed." People bring it up every year, but every year, I think they get proved wrong. The Brownlow is the most prestigious individual award in AFL, and like all awards, it's controversial; but it has a tradition, prestige and history that other awards do not have.
amazonfan
Roar Guru
They also won the same number of Brownlows as Gary Ablett, or Len Thompson, or Simon Black, or James Hird, or Michael Voss etc....
Doug
Guest
Actually most supporters from other clubs are saying they were a bit surprised but that it kind of makes sense. If you take Judd out of Carlton they probably dont make the finals, take Abblet or Swan out and their teams are probably still final four material. But if it upsets you Collingwood supporters that much I'll do you a deal. I'll swap you: Judd's Browlow goes to Swan; if Collingwoods place in the grand final goes to Carlton. Deal?
Doug
Guest
If you think Judd is a crap player then you clearly have no idea. Sometimes in sport the favourite doesn't win. If you dont like the Brownlow there are plenty of other player awards competitions to choose from. One of them will probably choose the player you like best. Or you could make up your own award: "Joel's AFL player whose name is most like of the year award".
hmmmm
Guest
haha she does! and come across as just as silly as MJ!!!
hmmmm
Guest
Carlton supporters are just trying to cling to something this year, and Judd is all they've got but if they trully look at it they would see why ALL supporters from other clubs are questioning this outcome. Even my hubby who hates collingwood said he smells a rat, Ablett or Swan should have won!!!! The umpires are in the bookies pockets. Taking nothing away from Judd he is a great player but there were clearly more worthy winners! There is a bigger picture here and I believe with a bit of a prod the umpires would spill with the info. Anyway result cant be changed, but it is clear to me that the Brownlow is not worth the trouble anymore its a joke!!!!!!
hmmmm
Guest
Totally agree!!!!!
Stoffy18
Roar Guru
Thats karma Swan for having two dirty rotten sleeves on your arm
Tim
Guest
The WAFL gf on the weekend was heartbreaking! Cracker (Krakouer?) of a game though. I thouroughly don't beleive in changing the way the bronlow works, amoungst other things what would changing it say about the legitimacy of the previous winners? There are other awards out that may prove to be the better way of declaring B&F and they will come to the fore in time.
MavMan
Guest
Spelt Coniglio, kicked 4 goals himself btw. A great result for the black ducks. -- Comment left via The Roar's iPhone app. Download The Roar's iPhone App in the App Store here.
Michael DiFabrizio
Expert
Thanks for your interest in my very poor journalism, Tom. Firstly, I'm a bit unsure what you're getting at when you say, "he did miss the first three games of the year, so he was behind the eight ball when it came to those votes." He missed the first three games in Brownlow voting as well, so I'd say comparing to those other awards was a fair comparison to make. As for, "You’ll also find he was right up there with the Coaches votes," the final coaches votes aren't yet available so that's why they weren't brought into it. But for the record, as of Round 19, he was fifth in that count with 61 votes. So he may end up cracking the top five by season's end, I'll give you that. For what it's worth, though, the player leading as of Round 19 was Dane Swan, with 104 votes.
hmmmm
Guest
but Judd did poll 2 votes the week of the incident on pavlich.....fair player that day I think not!
hmmmm
Guest
yep thought the same myself.........conspiracy is in the air
Joel
Guest
Your disclaimer is irrelevant, the objective of the Brownlow IS NOT to find the umpires pet. The umpires are just a means to an end. To persist with a broken system on the basis of tradition is the weakest of all possible arguments for its retention.
Westcoast929406
Guest
The top three in the Brownlow were all midfielders who tend to get the ball a lot and under the umps eyes at all times. However Judd has won it for 2010. I think the umps get it right in most years but G Ablett is definitely the best player IMHO in the AFL at the moment. Speaking of good players - WA footy appears to have unearthed another potential great player - 16 years old -still going to school - 183cm high 80 kgs - Inside/outside Midfielder - Can kick on both feet - can handpass on either side - Has great composure and awareness. Has played the last 4 games in the seniors for Swan Districts in the WAFL. He gave the ball in heavy traffic to Andrew Krakouer who kicked the winning goal in the exciting WAFL Grand Final last Saturday. His name is Stephen Cuniglio - Kevin Sheedy from GWS was at the game to observe him, and he will likely end up at GWS.
Republican
Guest
No he didn't deserve to win it at all, albeit he is a fine player as we know. This was a sentimental decision to award Judd surely. I reckon Swan should have been awarded this accolade for my money.
BigAl
Guest
The 'Brownlow' is an award granted by the AFL/VFL to the 'Fairest & Best' player in the competition, as adjudicated by the umpires, always has been . . . end of story !