Hi there,

I've been reading this board since around 01' 02. Demons fan. Hardly ever make a comment here but I find it very enjoyable reading!

Anyway, my question centres around Judd. I am curious as to whether Melbourne had much of an opportunity to pick him up when he was initially drafted? That was 2002 correct? Not sure whether we finished high or low (as not sure exactly which draft it was) that year.

I know it went Hodge, Ball then Judd at number three, and I'm also aware that he was a Demons fan and also played for Sandringham!

My friend was finishing high school at Caulfield grammar when Judd was in year seven over there.

I know that there was a query around Judd at the time with his suspect shoulders, however I'm just wondering how close we came to drafting him (it's a good bet he would have been hoping for that to eventuate at the time!)

DI.

Welcome on board.

We were this close to getting him...

2001 National Draft

1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

2 Luke Ball Saint Kilda Sandringham Dragons 2001 NAT

3 Chris Judd West Coast Sandringham Dragons 2001 NAT

4 Graham Polak Fremantle East Fremantle 2001 NAT

5 Xavier Clarke Saint Kilda St Marys 2001 NAT

6 Ashley Sampi West Coast South Fremantle 2001 NAT

7 David Hale Kangaroos Broadbeach 2001 NAT

8 James Bartel Geelong Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

9 Luke Molan Melbourne Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

Truth is we were never in the hunt. The top 3 stood out in that year and were clearly superior to others. Each of Ball, Hodge and Judd have been great value to their sides . The next three have been flaky. We came 11th in 2001.

Welcome on board.

We were this close to getting him...

2001 National Draft

1 Luke Hodge Hawthorn Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

2 Luke Ball Saint Kilda Sandringham Dragons 2001 NAT

3 Chris Judd West Coast Sandringham Dragons 2001 NAT

4 Graham Polak Fremantle East Fremantle 2001 NAT

5 Xavier Clarke Saint Kilda St Marys 2001 NAT

6 Ashley Sampi West Coast South Fremantle 2001 NAT

7 David Hale Kangaroos Broadbeach 2001 NAT

8 James Bartel Geelong Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

9 Luke Molan Melbourne Geelong Falcons 2001 NAT

Truth is we were never in the hunt. The top 3 stood out in that year and were clearly superior to others. Each of Ball, Hodge and Judd have been great value to their sides . The next three have been flaky. We came 11th in 2001.

We all know who was the worst of that group.

We all know who was the worst of that group.

10 Sam Power W Bulldogs Oakleigh U18 U18 VMFL

11 Richard Cole Collingwood Eastern U18 U18 VMFL

12 Brent Reilly Adelaide Calder U18 U18 VMFL

13 Nick Del Santo St Kilda Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

14 Ashley Watson Kangaroos Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

15 Barry Brooks Port Adelaide Tasmania U18 U18 Tas

16 Rick Ladson Hawthorn Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

17 James Kelly Geelong Calder U18 U18 VMFL

18 Shane Harvey Essendon Northern U18 U18 VMFL

19 Jason Gram Brisbane Gippsland U18 U18 VCFL

20 Daniel Elstone Hawthorn Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

21 Matt Maguire St Kilda Geelong U18 U18 VCFL

22 Mark Seaby WC Eagles West Perth WAFL

23 Charlie Gardiner Geelong Sandringham U18 U18 VMFL

24 Steve Johnson Geelong Murray U18 U18 VCFL

25 Steven Armstrong Melbourne Perth WAFL

26 Aaron Rogers Melbourne NSW-ACT U18 U18 NSW-ACT

Yep we did well in that draft.

Molan was a very, very unlucky footballer. Saw him play last week for Spotswood and he was amazing. Obviously its a massive class drop, but he has talent just never got to show it

Ok thanks for that info.

Didn't he have 2 shoulder reconstructions prior to being drafted? Is this the reason perhaps that Both Hawthorn and St. Kilda chose who they did instead of Judd?

Would he have gone at number one if not for this uncertainty?

Did the dees have Judd on their shopping list as a number one choice if he had somehow made it through to number nine?

Molan was a very, very unlucky footballer. Saw him play last week for Spotswood and he was amazing. Obviously its a massive class drop, but he has talent just never got to show it

Looks like he is finding a niche there.

10 Sam Power W Bulldogs Oakleigh U18 U18 VMFL

11 Richard Cole Collingwood Eastern U18 U18 VMFL

12 Brent Reilly Adelaide Calder U18 U18 VMFL

13 Nick Del Santo St Kilda Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

14 Ashley Watson Kangaroos Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

15 Barry Brooks Port Adelaide Tasmania U18 U18 Tas

16 Rick Ladson Hawthorn Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

17 James Kelly Geelong Calder U18 U18 VMFL

18 Shane Harvey Essendon Northern U18 U18 VMFL

19 Jason Gram Brisbane Gippsland U18 U18 VCFL

20 Daniel Elstone Hawthorn Bendigo U18 U18 VCFL

21 Matt Maguire St Kilda Geelong U18 U18 VCFL

22 Mark Seaby WC Eagles West Perth WAFL

23 Charlie Gardiner Geelong Sandringham U18 U18 VMFL

24 Steve Johnson Geelong Murray U18 U18 VCFL

25 Steven Armstrong Melbourne Perth WAFL

26 Aaron Rogers Melbourne NSW-ACT U18 U18 NSW-ACT

Yep we did well in that draft.

I think it shows how one bad draft can really affect a side.

Yet St. Kilda drafting Ball, X Clarke, De Santo and Maguire in that draft are looking like idiots for not taking Judd. Yet you probably be able to pay those four next year with the money Judd is going to get.

was 426 in that draft as well?

was 426 in that draft as well?

Smith was in the next draft I believe. First rounder?

We also took Miller at 55 in 2001. Doesn't come close to making up for the stinkers in the early rounds, but represented pretty good value I think.

The answer to the question is that he was our number 1 target for that draft. However, it is true that he was never going to last to pick 9, but regardless if we had pick 1 we would have taken him. The MFC had been taking care of Judd for years. He was a BIG TIME Melbourne supporter. The club recognised this, and his potential. For years before being drafted Judd was invited to MFC functions and attended. This included match day entertainment and mid week training sessions.

It is my hope that he wants to come home and win us a premiership. In reallity the chances of getting him are slim even if he wanted to wear the red and blue.

In reallity the chances of getting him are slim even if he wanted to wear the red and blue.

im not so sure...i think if he wants to come here we'll get him. i dont think we'll finish last but we'll most likely finish in the bottom half of the ladder giving us a reasonable bargaining chip.

similar to aker last year if he says i want to go home, you have two choices trade me to melb or i go in the psd they will trade him. and if they have a choice of nothing or a 1st rounder and a player they would take it.

he is a gun there is no doubt but we can work around that.

Thanks for that Deetastic.

With all this speculation about Judd, I was just interested to know what the situation was from the beginning. Sounds like a real shame we didn't get him, considering all the communication and relations between Melbourne and his family beforehand.

Then again, how many players out there are actually playing for the team they supported as a child? Not many I'd say. And we're only talking about this particular player due to his skill.

Damn, we should have thrown a couple more games that year hey?

Yet St. Kilda drafting Ball, X Clarke, De Santo and Maguire in that draft are looking like idiots for not taking Judd. Yet you probably be able to pay those four next year with the money Judd is going to get.

Not at all. Judd at draft time was as capable as the others Ball and Hodge. All have been great for their club. The Saints drafting Clarke, De Santo and Maguire had nothing to do with the Judd issue.

FWIW, its worth Del Santo and Maguire were inspired selections at 13 and 21 especially when you think what we did with Pick 9.

Not at all. Judd at draft time was as capable as the others Ball and Hodge. All have been great for their club. The Saints drafting Clarke, De Santo and Maguire had nothing to do with the Judd issue.

FWIW, its worth Del Santo and Maguire were inspired selections at 13 and 21 especially when you think what we did with Pick 9.

St. Kilda would have already won a flag if they went with Judd.

St. Kilda would have already won a flag if they went with Judd.

And so would have have we if we picked him up

FWIW, its worth Del Santo and Maguire were inspired selections at 13 and 21 especially when you think what we did with Pick 9.

I agree with you completely here Rhino.........

These two have been truly excellent for the Saints and will probably continue to be for a while to come (although Dal Santo is out of contract this year)

But it can make you weep sometimes !!!