"Judd, Judd, Judd," Jones said during the recent launch of The Stats Revolution, a book by 1970 premiership hero Ted Hopkins. "I played with magnificent players. Nicholls, Doull, Jesaulenko, but Judd is by far the best I've ever seen.
"He is just so consistently good, week after week - the way he's going he will win another Brownlow."
Judd (at $4.50-$5) is the favourite to win the Brownlow with all bookmakers.
If he is to win a third medal, he will join elite company. Only four players in the game's history (the first Brownlow was awarded in 1924) - Haydn Bunton (Fitzroy, 1931-32, 1935), Dick Reynolds (Essendon, 1934, 1937-38), Bob Skilton (South Melbourne, 1959, 1963, 1968) and Ian Stewart (St Kilda, 1965-66; Richmond, 1971) - are triple Brownlow medallists.
But Jones warned the skipper needed support if Carlton was to threaten this year's flag. "The whole thing is he just has to keep playing well all the time. The other guys need to step up - the Murphys and Gibbs, they need to do more when he doesn't play well," he said.
1968 premiership rover Dennis Munari was also effusive in his praise of Judd.
"They've obviously got a great leader in Juddy," Munari said.
"They are potentially a top-four side. I think the midfield has improved and I think the backline has certainly improved with [Nick] Duigan and the boy from Geelong [Jeremy Laidler] all going very well. I think if they can shore up the backline they are in with a real chance."
Dual premiership full-back Geoff Southby also likes what he see.
"Judd is obviously leading by example again; it's fantastic the way he's going," Southby said. "It's always exciting when you're on the way up… hopefully we can get to the top four this year."
Four-time premiership star David McKay said that with Judd in the midfield the Blues had one of the best in the AFL.
"Some of the younger guys are more consistent and the new players have added a bit to them. (Ed) Curnow has been terrific for us," McKay said.
"I think (Robert) Warnock is standing up in the middle and that makes a huge difference. The midfield is one of the best in the League and if you can get it to them with Warnock, [they're going to win a lot of games]."
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