Who was better in 2011?

[PaulP]

AFLPA MOST VALUABLE PLAYER
Chris Judd (Carlton) 1347*
Scott Pendlebury (Collingwood) 456
Gary Ablett (Gold Coast) 389
Adam Goodes (Sydney) 300
Dean Cox (West Coast) 276

Murphy's opponents obviously don't share the same view.

That's true. But there are other significant groups that do. If you go back and watch footage, read what was written at the time, look at the stats I posted earlier, you will see that both had brilliant seasons and splitting them is as MIO suggested, speculative, subjective, and not even remotely clear cut.