ROUND 2, 2011
GC SUNS v CARLTON
Saturday, April 2nd, 2011 marked a very special moment in the history of the AFL, when the GC SUNS took to the Gabba for the very first time in the NAB AFL Premiership season. After nearly 3 years in the making and in front of nearly 28,000 fans, the GC SUNS had finally arrived.
Carlton captain and best-on-ground Chris Judd, playing his 200th game (29 disposals) was outstanding, as the Blues ran away with a euphoric win. The inexperienced Ablett led GC SUNS were not in the contest, but did demonstrate some glimpses of exciting times ahead for AFL's newest entrant.
This is a Match Ball used during this historic AFL game and this item is personally signed by GC SUNS Inaugural captain Gary Ablett and Carlton captain Chris Judd (celebrating his 200th game). This is a money can't buy, once in a lifetime very rare piece of AFL memorabilia.
Ablett has been recognised as one of the AFL's elite midfielders, being awarded many of the league's highest individual honors, including the prestigious 2009 Brownlow Medal, the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association's Most Valuable Player a record three times, and been selected to four All-Australian sides, once as vice-captain. He is a dual premiership player with Geelong. Ablett is the current and inaugural captain of the GC SUNS. Ablett has played 207 AFL games for Geelong and GC SUNS.
Widely regarded as one of the best footballers currently in the AFL, Judd has twice won the league's highest individual honour, the Brownlow Medal, and has once won the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL Players Association most valuable player. He has achieved another of the league's highest honours by captaining the West Coast Eagles to the 2006 AFL Premiership. Consistently recognised as one of the game's premier midfielders, Judd has been selected in the All-Australian team five times, including as captain in 2008. At a representative level, he played for Australia in the 2002 International Rules Series and for Victoria in the AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match in 2008.
Judd is recognised as a great at two clubs, West Coast and his current club Carlton. During his 134 games with West Coast he captained the club for two seasons and won two Club Champion Awards. After returning to Melbourne to captain the Carlton Football Club, Judd won the John Nicholls Medal as the club's Best and Fairest three times, and become just one of four players in AFL history to win a Brownlow Medal at more than one club (2004 at West Coast and 2010 at Carlton). Judd has played 215 AFL games for West Coast and Carlton and captained the Eagles to a one-point victory over Sydney in the 2006 AFL Grand Final, winning his first AFL Premiership medallion.
The yellow Sherrin Match Ball comes as used during the game with BOQ sponsor branding, signed by both captains and with a Certificate of Authenticity from the GC SUNS.
This widely unique, antique and extremely rare piece of AFL history can now be yours.
