West Coast forward Josh Kennedy justified his position as one of the league’s star forwards with a dominant 11-goal haul against Greater Western Sydney on Sunday.
There is no doubt that Kennedy’s football has progressed in leaps and bounds since being traded to the Eagles during the 2007 trade period.
But seven years on from one of the most publicised trades in AFL history, was Carlton within its rights to trade away the promising young forward?
I talk of course of the Chris Judd trade, who at the time was undoubtedly the game’s hottest talent.
When Judd announced he would be seeking a move back to Victoria, clubs threw just about anything at the Eagles to try and lure the superstar midfielder.
And who could blame them? Judd was in the prime of his career and possessed a football resume matched by very few.
Some pundits had even gone as far to suggest he was one of the modern game’s best ever midfielders and he was an integral part of the dominant West Coach engine room that also included Ben Cousins and Daniel Kerr.
Carlton traded Josh Kennedy, selection three and selection 20 in return for Judd and selection 46.
West Coast picked Chris Masten and Tony Notte in the draft while the Blues went for Western Australian Dennis Armfield.
While Notte failed to make the grade at the highest level, Masten is now one of the Eagles’ most consistent midfielders and a key player in their side.
Kennedy straightens the Eagles up in attack and is possibly in their top couple of most important players at the club.
An important thing to remember is that the Blues did not lack any firepower at the time of the trade, with Brendan Fevola being close to the best forward in the competition.
Dennis Armfield has had a serviceable career to date and has probably exceeded expectations from what you would like from a selection 46.
It was a lot for the Blues to give up and many suggested that for the trade to be worthwhile, Judd’s recruitment needed to deliver them a premiership.
With an ageing list, Carlton do not look like winning a flag anytime soon.
But it takes many factors and an element of luck to win a premiership so it would be too simplistic to measure a trade’s worth by that.
Judd not only improved Carlton on the field but he added professionalism and was a strong role model for other young midfielders, like Marc Murphy and Bryce Gibbs, to learn from.
But with Judd approaching the twilight of his career, how will the trade be judged in hindsight?
jax
Guest
Carlton didn't roll WC. WC threw the game away and good on Carlton for finishing strong. They deserved the win but let's keep things in perspective.
jax
Guest
VFL was on the verge of collapse and those outposts you refer to saved the league. WC and Collingwood are the most successful clubs off-field and WC is tied with the Cats and Lions on 3 flags each since the introduction of the AFL. WC, Freo, Crows and Port draw big crowds so don't agree that nothing has changed in that regard. Your logic is giving Vic teams a 100 plus year head start with stats. Hardly a realistic or balanced record of events. The rest of Australia doesn't include them and in time the stats will be split. It might take 10-20' years but they will eventually be split.
lyn
Guest
Yes Chris Judd won the Brownlow with Carlton in 2010. Carlton probably paid for that like they do everything. Dayne Swan was clearly the standout player that year and the Umpires had to eat humble pie and give him the Brownlow in 2011.I think carlton made a mistake in getting rid of kennedy they will rue the day.
Mic
Guest
Judd has won a brownlow, multiple best and fairests, multiple all Australian honours and an MVP award in his time at Carlton, and lifted them almost single handedly from the bottom of the ladder (although this year hasn't gone too well). In my opinion he has been huge for Carlton. Kennedy is still a young forward and right in his prime. In hindsight it would have been great to keep him and offload Fev, but our crystal ball wasn't working. I think the trade has been fair to both teams considering we got Armfield as we'll, who hasn't been to bad, and Judd will go down as one of the greatest ever for his role at both clubs. We still have to wait and see how Kennedy finishes up, and the signs are looking good, so let's call it even.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Well, when you put it that way! No argument.
Gregor
Guest
To kick five bags of five for a team that finished thirteenth last year is the mark of a good forward, any era.Remember that for all their vaunted success as a team, Geelong have no more AFL premierships than anyone else..Nor have Hawthorn.The real expansion clubs have just as many. Incidentally,if the West Coast Eagles,(and Brisbane) didn't donate to the fighting fund to keep the VFL afloat,that league would have been deader than Steller's Sea Cow and that's extinct.
Fred Bassett
Guest
Just remember this our interstater interloper friends and you'll be better for it. You were invited to play in 'OUR' league. So, just be thankful for that. End of the day, we grew here and you flew here.
SportsGuy
Guest
This debate is sooo arbitrary. - Judd plays terrific football for a number of years, as Carlton's best player, while Kennedy would have been unlikely to contribute and certainly not to the same level. - This season Judd has injuries, and Kennedy plays a blinder and everyone wants to judge the trade, where were these people when Judd was outplaying Kennedy in the early years of the deal? The trade worked out as Carlton had planned, it was a move to get a dominant brownlow caliber player to add to a talented side and push for finals - it was through no fault of Judd's play that Fev went off the rails and they haven't won a premiership. Neither have West Coast. It's really easy to judge a trade after 4-5 years, but it's a reduntant exercise as the circumstances are so far removed from those of the trade situation that the result isn't really a reflection on the competence of those involved. Carlton got a great player, and West Coast got perhaps $1.25 to the dollar in long term value which they would be rightfully happy with for losing a marquee player.
Adam
Guest
VFL stats will always remain to suit the VFL clubs feel superior with often not so great AFL stats
Eliot Bingham
Roar Pro
It's so hard to say. Carlton got Judd in his prime and were on the verge of top 4 and premierships etc. But it's like the draft when Selwood fell to number 7 and 6 teams passed on him. No one could've predicted the player he would become...
AdamG
Guest
Without the AFL forming Fred, the VFL would just be a bankrupt memory.
Fred Bassett
Guest
One must not forget the 16th premiership was at Geelong's expense, even with the great Gary Ablett Senior playing. Will Geelong be bogged on only 9 flags for all time is the bigger question? The day when the stats are split for VFL and AFL is when there is another league created altogether. The AFL is the VFL. It is basically the same competition with a few outposts tacked on the sides. The biggest drawing clubs were the same biggest clubs as there were in 1960, 1930 and 1900.
Macca
Guest
Axle look at the win losses in the season before and after Judd and justify that comment
Macca
Guest
There are measures of success between failure and a premiership Gene, if you look at the blues record pre and post Judd there is no doubt the trade was worth it for the blues.
langou
Roar Guru
Every team is trying to select a list that they think can win a premiership. Neither West Coast nor Carlton have done it since the trade so from that perspective it is a nil-all draw.
jax
Guest
Both teams got what they wanted so it's a tie for now but WC will judged the winner in time as Kennedy is only 26 and just moving into his prime and Masten is 23-24
jax
Guest
What have VFL flags go to do with it? Can't wait for the day when everyone will split the stats into two separate eras. VFL & AFL. Past is past, be proud of it but when it comes to stats leave them where they belong.
jax
Guest
Silly comment Gene. Look back through the last few years goal kicking stats to see what Kennedy has done against all teams. He's just had a bad start to the year that's all. He's one of the best tall forwards in the game
langou
Roar Guru
It was a good trade by Carlton. Judd won a Brownlow with Carlton and for many years was one of , if not the best, player in the comp. Carlton were closing in on the top four for some time there and perhaps if a couple more of their draft picks came through or they did one or two things differently they may have got there. Its a myth that teams bottom out and then win flags. Judd lifted the team from the bottom of the ladder, undoubtable helping a young midfield and while they have dropped this year, perhaps their next push could be the one that gets them into the top four.
Radelaide
Guest
The Eagles got the best of Judd (he won a premiership there) and they will now get the best of Kennedy and Masten so on the field they won but Carlton got a boost to the fans and the dollars that come with it so based on that the Eagles are so rich I would say they won, it is not often a star player forces a move and the team he is leaving wins.