Jude Bolton

[Captain]

The bloke is a gun.

He puts his head over the ball week in, week out and tries his guts out. Love the ball in his hands when kicking for goal as well. Have always believed he is one of our best set shots.

Everyone goes on about Kirky being the spiritual leader. I don't think Jude is far off - he is a fantastic Swans man.

[dimelb]

The bloke is a gun.

He puts his head over the ball week in, week out and tries his guts out. Love the ball in his hands as well. Have always believed he is one of our best.

Everyone goes on about Kirky being the spiritual leader. I don't think Jude is far off - he is a fantastic Swans man.

I left in all the bits I agree with. One of my favourite Swans.

[goswannie14]

Been playing very well this season.

[ShockOfHair]

Great to see his return to form. With Shaw he's been our best player this year.

[Plugger46]

Backing up a great 2008 with another good season. Has really surprised me as I thought he struggled in 2007.

[reigning premier]

Spot On.

Another good year to compliment his outstanding 2008.

Keep it up!

Now where's Nico when you need him?

[giant]

Having a super year - thank God for him and Kirk.

Is anyone else worried that basically all our stars were on the ground and playing well and we barely got over the line vs one of the also-rans of the competition? (And btw we had a pretty damn good run from the umps!)

Watching the game on TV, we looked the much slicker team and the Eagles seemed to be able to manufacture goals from silly situations so perhaps another week we win that game by 5-6 goals, but still a little disturbing to understand where the "big" lift is going to come from.

[Primmy]

We take Jude for granted most times don't we. My mob and I think we will be in deep doodoo when he leaves. And the way he has remained so ferocious at the ball is a reminder of what is required for a full time long time player.

Am almost thinking he would be in the running for a B&F this year. He generally about the mark, but it could be his time.

Anyway, despite Rossy's quote, I think he is still pretty. Blokey, but pretty.

[cruiser]

The talk of trading him at the end of the 2007 season has had just the desired effect, with Jude in possibly the best form of his career since that trade talk.

[SwansFan1972]

Having a super year - thank God for him and Kirk.

Is anyone else worried that basically all our stars were on the ground and playing well and we barely got over the line vs one of the also-rans of the competition? (And btw we had a pretty damn good run from the umps!)

Watching the game on TV, we looked the much slicker team and the Eagles seemed to be able to manufacture goals from silly situations so perhaps another week we win that game by 5-6 goals, but still a little disturbing to understand where the "big" lift is going to come from.

Jude's a legend - and has shown what a top drawer person he is to not let the shopping him around debacle affect his performance. I still can't believe his name was even mentioned as tradeable - apart from him and Kirky, who else can we count on to get down and dirty week in week out, season in season out?

Was a weird game for sure - swans looked the slickest and sharpest they've been in yonks, yet only squeaked home. Maybe it was just the weird voodoo that surrounds games against the weagles and makes most of em one kick games, but it sure looked like (and should have been) a 5-6 goal win. You're right about the silly west coast goals - they scored four of em in around 60 seconds play (two freaky goals in the blink of an eye on two separate occasions), and there was also the two stupid fiftys that gifted em a couple, so I guess if you take them out the 5-6 goals pretty much holds up.

And as much as it tastes like poison in my mouth to admit it, we actually got a better than even run from the umps. They seemed more lenient on defenders scragging/chopping etc (ours and theirs) than in most weeks, and we actually got a few tiggies along the way. Some dud calls of course, but that's to be expected!

[SwansFan1972]

The talk of trading him at the end of the 2007 season has had just the desired effect, with Jude in possibly the best form of his career since that trade talk.

I think that is a bit insulting to Jude - his 2007 was flat relative to his other years, but against others in the side he was still pretty solid. For his name to be mentioned in trade talk was a bigger downside risk than upside - and I'd hope that our coaching panel had a bit more respect for the players than to play mind games (using something as big as being traded) to try and spur them on. Jude certainly didn't deserve that.

[Mr Magoo]

I think that is a bit insulting to Jude - his 2007 was flat relative to his other years, but against others in the side he was still pretty solid. For his name to be mentioned in trade talk was a bigger downside risk than upside - and I'd hope that our coaching panel had a bit more respect for the players than to play mind games (using something as big as being traded) to try and spur them on. Jude certainly didn't deserve that.

While I didnt necessarily agree with trading him at the time, that trade was the very sort of trade that people on this site constantly scream out for (I think there was threads on this issue last week). When he went up for trade he was at his most valuable to deliver a decent high draft pick and could have delivered a player that would now be in his third year and possibly leading the side into the future.

No use trading guys when they are finished as everyone else knows that as well and best you will get is a third or fourth round draft pick.

[BSA5]

Possibly in AA form this year. Tough at a time when midfielders are matchwinners, but he's been very, VERY good. I have him behind Bolton and Shaw as our best players this year.

[Blood]

He's always been hard at the footy so that's not in question for me. The key for me has been his improved disposal - at least that's how i see it.

I reckon he's in career best form at the moment.

[Primmy]

So we all agree that Jude has been improving. After 200+ games. Does that mean a few pulled in heads will be in order amongst us for some of the current whipping boys (me included, Reg bothers me) in about 150 games or so?