Judd has TWO MORE brownlows than Swan.

Stats
I saw the stats and they point to roughly even.
(you can't really say Judd has 'only' 4 less possies per game but 9 more inside 50s per year... like for like = 88 less possies per year... but, that aside....)

One reason Judd's disposal effectiveness is less is b/c he has more hardball gets under more pressure to dispose and usually has 2 guys hanging off him when he might handball to advantage which our boys haven't yet fully cottoned on to so miss the advantage anyway. Whereas, Swan gets more of his possessions in the clear and gets to dispose of the ball under less pressure.

Swan undoubtedly had a better year but I'm pretty sure he wasn't even his own team's most concerning player from opposition coaches. I reckon Pendlebury would draw more concern for coaches. And Ablett more so than Pendlebury. And Judd on a par with Ablett.

Umpires Pets
As far as umpires pets go, perhaps it also has something to do with umpires factoring in the degree of difficulty as they witness the efforts made against these ball players are (what do Judd, Selwood, Bartel, Hayes, Watson, Pendlebury have in common??)
Compared with the media who put a lot more weight on the stats they are reading live to help them determine the best players. (Dermie is an exception - he likes to pick his best players based on those that most influenced the course of the match.)

Teammates' Votes
Whilst a reasonable argument, it is somewhat countered by the flip side: the better teams win more matches, giving greater opportunity for at least 2 of the 3 votes per match (most likely the 3- and 2- votes). So, whilst Judd had less competition within his own club, he had more competition from opposition clubs. ie. the lack of intra-club competition is counterbalanced by the greater interclub competition.

Midfielder's Award
Well of course it is. That's where the best players usually play! OWAAT put up a chart showing the votes of the AA backmen. Ridiculous. The key forwards are the only potential competition but are usually most valuable b/c of their scarcity rather than their brilliance, freaks aside (Reiwoldt, Brown, Carey, Lockett...) Fev could kick 9 goals by taking 12 marks and having 10 kicks - does that make him a better player than Judd or Ablett? Important, yes. Better? Well, he'd have to do it every week. (btw, with a full season, I reckon Reiwoldt could win it...)

And finally....
Line them (Swan, Judd) up on the wall - who would you pick first?

Absolutely no doubt that Judd is asked to do far more for his team than Swan is.

Just like Pavlich had to practically carry Freo over the line before they got a more even spread of contributors. Swan is nothing more than a very efficient part of a very efficient machine.

Plus whereas Judd is intelligent, lucid, well-rounded and saves his aggression for gameday, Swan is a bogan nuffie who gets involved in one-sided street brawls for fun.

Quite frankly, it's an insult to have them on the same page.

Absolutely no doubt that Judd is asked to do far more for his team than Swan is.

Just like Pavlich had to practically carry Freo over the line before they got a more even spread of contributors. Swan is nothing more than a very efficient part of a very efficient machine.

Plus whereas Judd is intelligent, lucid, well-rounded and saves his aggression for gameday, Swan is a bogan nuffie who gets involved in one-sided street brawls for fun.

Quite frankly, it's an insult to have them on the same page.

In 1995 Mike Sheahan picked us to miss the 8. Too old and too slow.