Chris Judd's 249 Game Career

Chris Judd is truly one of the best AFL footballer's that has played the game. So I have decided to do a player profile on the football great before he plays his 250th match on Friday night, against the Hawthorn Football Club.

Judd's Career has unfolded at two different clubs though out his 249 matches, the West Coast Eagles and the Carlton Football Clubs.

Judd started his career at the Eagles, were he was drafted with the number 3 pick in the 2001 Draft. Three years from then, Judd's was awarded with the 2004 Brownlow medal with a massive 30 votes. The runner up that year was Mark Riccuto of the Adelaide Crows with 23 votes. 

Judd also played in the 2005 Grand Final lose, and the 2006 Grand final for the Eagles, he was award the Norm Smith Medal in the 2005 Grand Final, were he gathered 29 disposals. 

After his successful start to his career, Judd declared he wanted to leave the West Coast Eagles in 2007, and a trade was manufactured with the Carlton Football club. The trade saw a young Josh Kennedy go west to the Eagles and Chris Judd start his new career at the Blues.

 In 2008 Judd was named the captain of the Carlton Football club, and had the task of resurrecting the Blues who were struggling at the time, winning consecutive wooden spoons in 2005, 2006. After two seasons at the Blues, Judd won a second Brownlow Medal, with another massive 30 votes. The runner up that year was Gary Ablett of the Geelong Football Club with 26 votes.

Chris Judd's Career High Stats

Disposals                                39 v Brisbane, 29th Apr 2006

Kicks                                       23 v Brisbane, 29th Apr 2006

Handballs                                23 v Collingwood, 16th Jul 2011

Marks                                      11 v Richmond, 4th Jun 2005

Goals                                       5 v Brisbane, 15th Jun 2003

Tackles                                   12 v Essendon, 23rd Jul 2011 

Hitouts                                     2 v Hawthorn, 25th Jul 2003 

Supercoach                             197 v Essendon, 23rd Jul 2011

Dream Team                           147 v North Melbourne, 13th Jul 2012

Judd has had a very successful career so far and has a lot to show for it

·        Two Grand Final appearances 1 win, 1 lose.

·        Won the 2005 Norm Smith Medal

·        Captain of the Carlton Football Club

·        Brownlow medallist 2004, 2010

I believe that Judd is coming towards the end of his career, but  may have one or two seasons left in him, No matter what he decides to do though, he will always be one of the greatest footballers to ever play the game.

Chris Judd accepting his second  Brownlow Medal.

Retired Player Profile (Martin Mattner)

Today (6/6/2013) Martin Mattner pulled the plug on his AFL career. 

Mattner had an interrupted 2013 home and away season.

Throughout the year he suffered from a recurring hip injury, stopping him from playing consistent football for the Sydney Swans. 

Mattner managed to play 222 AFL games for both the Adelaide Crows and the Sydney Swans throughout his career. 

During his career Mattner struck his best form while playing for the Sydney Swans, he played 115 games out of a possible 117, also playing in a premiership.

Mattner was recruited to the Adelaide crows in 2001, though the rookie draft , he was selected at pick 51 in the fourth round, he played over 100 matches for the Crows before transferring to the Swans in 2008. 

Martin Mattner's Career best Stats 

Disposals:  30 v Adelaide, 27th Jun 2009

Kicks: 20 v Collingwood 26th Jun 2010
Handballs: 17 v Essendon 1st Apr 2007

Marks: 12 v St Kilda Jun 2006

Goals: 2 v Brisbane 4th Jun 2011
Tackles: 13 v Geelong 28th Jul 2002
Hitouts: 3 v Sydney 30th Jul 2005
Supercoach: 163 v Adelaide 27th Jun 2009
Dream Team: 126 v Adelaide 27th Jun 2009

Martin Mattner was a respect AFL player who achieved plenty throughout his career. A 200+ game player and  a Premiership to his name is evidence of his success.

 Even though his retirement was sudden and unexpected i believe the AFL community will give him the respect he deserves for the career he managed to manufacture at the Swans and the Crows.

Mark Neeld Still Coach of the Demons, but for how long?

Mark Neeld, the current Melbourne coach, has been under heavy criticism from the very moment he took the reins of the Melbourne FC. 

Mark Neeld coaching career is only 32 games young, but in those 32 games there has been little joy, only 5 wins have occurred, making Neeld's winning percentage a low 15.6 %. If you compare Neeld's winning percentage with AFL coach, Brenton Sanderson from the Adelaide FC you will see a large difference. 

Brenton Sanderson has also coached 32 games with the exception of finals. These matches have been for the Adelaide Crows, Sanderson took charge of the Adelaide Crows at the same time, as Neeld decided to take the coaching role at the Demons. Both young coaches had lists that were inexperienced and their respected teams also placed in the bottom half of the ladder.

Sanderson’s coaching statistics are extremely more attractive than Neeld’s. Sanderson has successfully won 22 matches throughout his coaching career; Sanderson was also victorious in 18 of a possible 25 matches, in his first season. His winning percentage is 68.8% compared to Mark Neeld’s pitiful percentage of 15.6%.

One could only question how long Neeld’s stint as the Melbourne FC’s coach will last. Neeld has managed to survive a club board meeting that occurred today (3/6/2013) at 2pm. But the speculation that Neeld’s Melbourne role as coach could be over sooner than later, is growing.

No one expects the Demons to win this weekend against the Collingwood FC, however if the Demon’s were competitive for a large period of the match, in addition to not getting blown out of the water, a large amount of respect would be shown to Neeld, which might prolong his career at the Melbourne FC.

Was Ports 5.0 Start Hot Air?

Port Adelaide were the surprise packets of the 2013 season during the first 5 games. What seemed like an unstoppable freight train, but now its running more like the Glacier Express.(the worlds slowest train). Port have lost their past 5 matches and have slipped to 11th place on the AFL ladder after being equal 1st for 5 consecutive weeks.
Saturday the 1st of June the Port Adelaide FC played the Western Bulldogs in a match located in Darwin. If the Power won this match, it would have taken their season record to 6 wins and 4 loses. the match however didn't go to plan for the Power; going down to the Bulldogs by 9 points.
Port Adelaide coach Ken Hinkley described the match as their worst for the season stating;

 "It's been a really poor night for us, I think it just came down to a little bit more want in the third quarter. They wanted the win. They wanted to win the ball, they won the contested possession really well. They just wanted to win the game more than we did, which was disappointing.It should be very damning because we should never have let that game go the way it went." explained Power Coach Ken Hinkley.

Port Adelaide's 5.0 start now sits at 5 wins and 5 loses, and the next 5 matches don't get any easier for the Power. After the bye they face the Giants which is a game they should win, the Swans, Collingwood, Essendon, and the Hawks in that order. It is possible that after round 15 Port could have a record that sits as 6 wins and 9 loses which would mean mission impossible if  Port were to make finals.