I RECENTLY invited Jonathan Brown to contribute to the eternal debate on the most valuable player of the time.
The complete player: West Coast captain Chris Judd.
I suggested to him if he were more durable, he would need to look no further than the nearest mirror for his answer.
The fact is he has struggled to stay fit for a full season in recent years, but that's another story.
Brown had no difficulty deciding where the mantle should sit.
"Chris Judd would be the best player, mate," he said.
"He's just the full package. He's explosive and he plays well in big games. The great players get marked on how they perform in the big ones.
"He won the Norm Smith the year before (2005) and could have won it last year, too. He always seems to stand up.
"Pretty durable, humble character. Never met the bloke, but he seems to have the same sort of humility that Vossy (Michael Voss) does, I reckon.
"You wouldn't mind having half his leg speed. Reckon I'd kick 10 goals every week."
Pretty compelling case, really. Imagine Brown on Judd's legs.
This time last year, I named Barry Hall at No. 1, with Judd immediately under him.
The rationale was simple enough, and based on one of Jack Dyer's numerous quotable quotes: "A good big man will always beat a good little man . . . unless the little man is very, very good."
I have reversed the order this year on the basis of Judd's contribution to West Coast's 2006 premiership and Hall's failure to deliver for the Swans.
It was as close as that.
Judd, 23, is just about the complete player. Not so small, either, at 189cm.
His peers voted him the most valuable player in the competition in 2006 with 181 votes, more than double the number recorded by the runner-up, Brownlow Medal winner Adam Goodes.
Judd had the most possessions on the ground in three of West Coast's four finals, including the Grand Final, and was equal fifth in the other.
He averaged 16 kicks, 13 handballs and eight clearances in finals, amazing numbers.
Hall comes in second because of his extraordinary durability and consistency.
He finished second on the 2006 goalkicking table (including three finals) and took the most contested marks.
Brown's best might be better, but Hall just keeps fronting up and delivering. He has played 116 games in five seasons with the Swans, topping the goalkicking in each of those seasons, with a minimum 55. Playing virtually as a centre half-forward.
If Brown were to play 18 or more games in the form he showed in the first 10 rounds last year, he will be No. 1 come season's end.
Dean Cox is the best ruckman in the competition and sits comfortably among the top five. Even after watching him for five years, he still amazes with his mobility and dexterity for someone standing 204cm.
Matthew Pavlich, Goodes, Brad Johnson and Nick Riewoldt are next and can be rearranged to suit. Consistent, classy, productive, all of them.
Riewoldt needs only to improve his kicking to go to the top of the quartet.
Shaun Burgoyne is the player with the red bullet.
He is a super talent. His brother, Peter, is a high-class player; Shaun is even better.
Chad Cornes rounds off the 10 as the most valuable defender in the competition.
For the first time in 14 years, none of James Hird, Nathan Buckley or Robert Harvey is in the 50.
They will be when the season starts, but age and their coaches will see them slip out as the year unfolds.
Harvey is 35, Hird and Buckley 34. They will be nursed through, spending considerable time on the bench.
Harvey is a marvel. He was excellent yet again last year, playing all 23 games, while Buckley started in 21 and Hird 13. Harvey finished fourth in the Saints' best-and-fairest, Bucks missed the top eight in the Copeland Trophy. Hirdy still managed to finish sixth in the Bombers' B&F from virtually half a season.
The Essendon champ will play three or four blinders, but history says blokes don't become more durable, quicker, stronger or better in their mid-30s.
The biggest mover on my list is Fremantle's Aaron Sandilands. From nowhere in 2006 to 14 . . . and climbing. There are commentators, principally Gerard Healy, who would see him as undersold at 14.
I, too, watched him accumulate 516 hitouts from 21 games last year, including 39 in the preliminary final loss to Sydney. His reputation has grown with remarkable speed.
If he is as good as Healy and others suggest, expect to see plenty of him – and the Dockers – come September.
SHEAHAN'S TOP 50
1. Chris Judd (West Coast)
2. Barry Hall (Sydney)
3. Jonathan Brown (Brisbane Lions)
4. Dean Cox (West Coast)
5. Matthew Pavlich (Fremantle)
6. Adam Goodes (Sydney)
7. Brad Johnson (Western Bulldogs)
8. Nick Riewoldt (St Kilda)
9. Shaun Burgoyne (Port Adelaide)
10. Chad Cornes (Port Adelaide)
11. Brendan Fevola (Carlton)
12. Simon Goodwin (Adelaide)
13. Scott West (Western Bulldogs)
14. Aaron Sandilands (Fremantle)
15. Daniel Kerr (West Coast)
16. Brendon Lade (Port Adelaide)
17. Ryan O'Keefe (Sydney)
18. Luke Hodge (Hawthorn)
19. Matthew Lloyd (Essendon)
20. Brett Kirk (Sydney)
21. Lenny Hayes (St Kilda)
22. James Clement (Collingwood)
23. Simon Black (Brisbane Lions)
24. Adam Hunter (West Coast)
25. Luke Power (Brisbane Lions)
26. Nick Dal Santo (St Kilda)
27. Matthew Scarlett (Geelong)
28. Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn)
29. Scott Lucas (Essendon)
30. Nick Stevens (Carlton)
31. Cameron Bruce (Melbourne)
32. Paul Chapman (Geelong)
33. Luke Ball (St KIlda)
34. Dustin Fletcher (Essendon)
35. Andrew Embley (West Coast)
36. Lindsay Gilbee (Western Bulldogs)
37. Craig Bolton (Sydney)
38. Joel Bowden (Richmond)
39. Darren Glass (West Coast)
40. Brett Burton (Adelaide)
41. Luke McPharlin (Fremantle)
42. Andrew McLeod (Adelaide)
43. Kane Cornes (Port Adelaide)
44. Aaron Davey (Melbourne)
45. Daniel Cross (Western Bulldogs)
46. Tyson Edwards (Adelaide)
47. Daniel Wells (Kangaroos)
48. Ryan Griffen (Western Bulldogs)
49. Graham Johncock (Adelaide)
50. Brock McLean (Melbourne)
http://www.heraldsun.news.com.au/footy/common/story_page/0,8033,21435277%255E19742,00.html
