Jude Bolton to announce retirement this Monday

[Ludwig]

Jude the Great

I am bemused by the number of commentators that begin their analysis of Jude's career with something like 'he may not have been the greatest footballer going around, but..........'. Even on RWO there have been many comments over the years about how slow Jude is. But I never saw him as a slow player. To me, he always seemed to move smoothly around the ground. He impressed me with his overall athleticism. He's a first class overhead mark, and a good decision maker. I think so of the remarks about him being slow were due to the fact that he really doesn't have any notable weaknesses in his game, and that was the best some people could come up with.

Now add to that the fact that Jude Bolton is the single game and all time record holder in one of the most important stats of the game (tackles), and perhaps the key indicator for the Swans, you have to think this may be a very special player (the Tony Lockett of tackling). Despite being one of the hardest players to ever have played the game, to my recollection, he has never been suspended, nor do I believe he has ever been charged by the MRP (not checked). He has played 321 games (presently ranked 30th of all-time) over 15 seasons, and has hardly missed a beat.

So we are talking about one of the hardest, fairest, resilient, likable and consistent players to have played the game.

Understated and first class in every respect, Jude Bolton would be near the top of my list of the greatest career football players, EVER!

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Congratulations Jude. Hope to see you around the club for many years to come.

[MightyBloods]

I think Jude is on 360 on FoxFooty tonight.

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I remember when we drafted Jude with the No 8 overall pick in the 1998 national draft outsiders were scathing of the Swans for not taking a NSW/ACT Rams player.Mark McVeigh was taken at No 9 by Essendon and Lenny Hayes No 11 by St Kilda. For years, and even to this day, I can remember commentaters saying "how did the Swans overlook Lenny Hayes?" Well we picked up a player called Jude Bolton! A dual premership player and second highest games EVER by a Swan. Whilst I'm a huge admirer of Lenny I know whose career I'd prefer!

[BigBarryRound25]

Excellent post - completely agree

[Xie Shan]

I think Jude is on 360 on FoxFooty tonight

Was he still on, or did the Essendon saga take up all of their time?

[Bloody Hell]

I am bemused by the number of commentators that begin their analysis of Jude's career with something like 'he may not have been the greatest footballer going around, but..........'. Even on RWO there have been many comments over the years about how slow Jude is. But I never saw him as a slow player. To me, he always seemed to move smoothly around the ground. He impressed me with his overall athleticism. He's a first class overhead mark, and a good decision maker. I think so of the remarks about him being slow were due to the fact that he really doesn't have any notable weaknesses in his game, and that was the best some people could come up with.

Now add to that the fact that Jude Bolton is the single game and all time record holder in one of the most important stats of the game (tackles), and perhaps the key indicator for the Swans, you have to think this may be a very special player (the Tony Lockett of tackling). Despite being one of the hardest players to ever have played the game, to my recollection, he has never been suspended, nor do I believe he has ever been charged by the MRP (not checked). He has played 321 games (presently ranked 30th of all-time) over 15 seasons, and has hardly missed a beat.

So we are talking about one of the hardest, fairest, resilient, likable and consistent players to have played the game.

Understated and first class in every respect, Jude Bolton would be near the top of my list of the greatest career football players, EVER!

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Congratulations Jude. Hope to see you around the club for many years to come.

I think they're saying that in the context of being a 300 game player - where they say 2 time brownlow medalist, 6 time best and fairest, 4 time AA, 3 League MVP awards, 2 time Norm Smith Medalist, leading goal kicker etc.

Jude's best "stat" like this is finished top 10 in the B&F 7 or 9 years in a row???

And people tend to forget at the end of peoples careers how much of a beast they were in their prime. And he was a BEAST! Key part of the 2005 premiership and champion of the club.

Congrats on a GREAT career.

[wolftone57]

Well done to Jude on a great career. The bravest, most determined, positive player ever to don the guernsey. What more can I say, enjoy your retirement Jude and I hope the body now gets time to recover.

[CJK]

Club Legend

[Untamed Snark]

The Ballad of Jude Bolton

Jude looked like Jane but played like Tarzan

I can't believe tonight is his last home & away game, wish it was at the SCG