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Chris Judd

Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September 1983) is an Australian professional Australian rules footballer for the Carlton Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). A tall midfielder at 189cm and 85kg, Judd is an AFL Premiership captain, Brownlow Medallist, Leigh Matthews Trophy winner as the league MVP, and Norm Smith Medallist. He has also been awarded three All-Australian jumpers (including one as captain), won three Club Champion Awards, three Ross Glendinning Medals, and captained the West Coast Eagles and the Carlton Football Club and most recently won Carlton's best and fairest in 2008 in his first year.

Although hampered by injury for much of his junior career, Judd was selected with the third overall pick in the 2001 AFL Draft by the West Coast Eagles. There, he became a highly decorated young player, and built a reputation as the most explosive midfielder in the game. At the conclusion of the 2007 AFL season however, Judd left the Eagles to return to his home state of Victoria, and was subsequently traded to the Carlton Blues. Prior to the 2008 AFL season, he was awarded the captaincy of the club.

Football career

West Coast Eagles

Although concerns surrounding his shoulders, which had been reconstructed via surgery twice already prior to the age of eighteen, clouded his prospects, Judd was selected by West Coast with the third pick in the 2001 AFL National Draft. Expectations continued to rise when he was awarded the number three guernsey at West Coast, worn previously by former club premiership hero Chris Mainwairing. Judd responded with a four-goal haul in what would be his lone appearance in the WAFL for East Perth, ultimately earning the maximum five votes in the Sandover Medal count and prompting the Eagles to debut him in the senior side the following week.

Judd would go on to make an impressive debut against Collingwood in Round 2 of 2002, and ultimately finish third in West Coast's club champion award for the year. At season's end, he was selected to play for Australia against Ireland in the two-match International Rules series played in Dublin.

At the age of just twenty, Judd was appointed as one of the Eagles' four vice-captains in 2004. He filled in as acting captain for five matches while Ben Cousins battled with injury. At the season's end, he was named to his first All Australian Team as a wingman, and won the Eagles' Club Champion award for the first time. Judd made history as West Coast's first Brownlow medallist, defeating the favourite Warren Tredrea of Port Adelaide for the award in a ceremony held at the Palladium at Crown Casino on 20 September 2004.

During the 2005 season, Judd won the Goal of the Year award, and was awarded the Norm Smith Medal in the 2005 AFL Grand Final when West Coast lost to the Sydney Swans by four points in a thrilling contest. On 1 March 2006, Judd was named captain of the club, succeeding Ben Cousins, who resigned the position after being charged with failing to stop for a police breath test. Judd responded with a brilliant season, winning the Leigh Matthews Trophy as the AFL's Most Valuable Player and earning All-Australian selection for the second time. He captained the Eagles to a thrilling one-point victory over Sydney in the 2006 AFL Grand Final, winning his first AFL Premiership medallion.

Throughout the 2007 AFL season, Judd's future at West Coast was the subject of much speculation after his declaration that he would not enter into contract discussions with the club until the completion of the season. Mid-year, Judd's chronic groin injury sidelined him for several weeks. When he returned to the game, his performance continued to be restricted by the injury (he played in the forward line) and he was rested for several games in anticipation of playing in the finals series.

Move to Carlton

On 16 September 2007, two days after West Coast's semi-final elimination by Collingwood, it was announced that Judd would be requesting a trade to his native state of Victoria, despite earlier hinting that he would stay in Perth during an interview with Shane Crawford. He notified West Coast coach John Worsfold and CEO Trevor Nisbett of his intentions earlier that day. As arguably the most talented player in the competition, his departure created much attention and speculation among the Melbourne-based clubs, the media and the football community.

In the weeks following the announcement of his departure, Chris Judd met with four sides: Essendon, Melbourne, Collingwood and Carlton.. Judd's management informed Melbourne that Judd was surprised with their presentation, but felt that their Junction Oval training facilities were "an issue", even though he supported Melbourne in his youth.

On 2 October 2007 Judd announced that his preferred club was Carlton. Carlton was initially favoured as the club most likely to secure the services of Judd, because they held two early draft picks which could be used in negotiations with West Coast. On 11 October 2007 Judd was officially traded to Carlton along with a third round selection in the 2007 AFL Draft (#46 overall) for Carlton's first and second round selections (#3 and #20) and Josh Kennedy. Judd will wear the #5 guernsey vacated by the trade of Kennedy. After much deliberation over the off-season, Judd was awarded the captaincy of the club entering into his first season with the Blues. His first game in navy blue was a Friday afternoon practice match on 7 March 2008 against the Western Bulldogs at MC Labour Park, with his presence attracting 12,000 fans; Judd scored a goal and had 20 touches.

Judd began playing with Carlton from the first round. Initially below full fitness due to a groin surgery, his ground time was limited, but in Round 3 he had over 30 possessions. His return match against West Coast at Subiaco Oval in Round 7 was widely anticipated in the media, and Carlton won by 37 points. He was selected in the Victorian team the following week for the Hall of Fame Tribute Match. Judd played 21 of the 22 home-and-away games through the season, finished 5th in the Leigh Matthews Trophy, and won the John Nicholls Medal for the best and fairest of the Carlton Football Club. Through the course of the year, Judd gradually regained the explosive speed he is renowned for and played a more inside role than in previous seasons, recording the most contested possesions in the AFL.

He capped off his season when he was named All-Australian captain and ruck rover – his third All-Australian selection, and first as captain.

Injuries and Surgery

Judd has battled injuries his entire career, which has often resulted in him undergoning surgery. Known surgery undertaken by Judd so far to help mend injuries has been for his wrist, shoulders and groin. His shoulders are often a talking point amongst footy commenators which were reconstructed before he was drafted and both were taped in his early years, which was quite unusual for a young draftee. Gradually it appeared as though Judd's shoulders were standing up to AFL football and his shoulders were no longer taped for the 2005 season. In 2006 Judd sufferrered his first injury re-occurrence in a match against the kangaroos as Brady Rawlings partially dislcated his left shoulder whilst tagging him. The same shoulder suffered further dislocation in the 2006 Grand Final win over Sydney. In the 2006 off season Judd had more surgery on his left shoulder, although he did not undergo a second reconstruction. At the beginning of 2008 Judd only had tape on his left shoulder which now remains taped for matches since his second surgery, however as the season progressed his right shoulder is now also taped and iced after games, suggesting further injury to this already reconstructed shoulder.

In the 2007 off season Judd underwent groin surgery for what is widely reported as osteitis pubis, he missed almost the entire Carlton pre-season recovering. Despite the lack of pre-season he performed admirably as he captained Carlton in 2008, missing only one game with concussion.

Honours

Team

AFL Premiership with West Coast: 2006 (Captain)

Individual

Brownlow Medal: 2004
Leigh Matthews Trophy: 2006
All-Australian: 2004, 2006, 2008 (Captain)
Norm Smith Medal: 2005
Victorian Team representative honours in AFL Hall of Fame Tribute Match: 2008
John Nicholls Medal: 2008
West Coast Club Champion Award: 2004, 2006
Ross Glendinning Medal: 2005 (twice), 2006
International Rules Series representative honours: 2002
AFLPA Best First Year Player Award: 2002

Other achievements

Captain of Carlton: 2008-present
Captain of West Coast Eagles: 2006–2007
AFL Goal of the Year: 2005

Personal life

Towards the end of 2003, Judd began writing a column on the West Coast Eagles official website called "Juddy's Jibe". Some of his opinions presented in these columns prompted extensive media commentary, such as his view that footballers should not be role models. Throughout the 2006 season, the column was also published in Melbourne newspaper The Age, where Judd spoke about issues such as global warming, terrorism, superficiality in the mass media, world peace and James Surowiecki's book The Wisdom of Crowds.

Judd attended Caulfield Grammar School, and attained an ENTER score of 96.20 on his Victorian Certificate of Education. He is currently studying for a Master of Business Administration degree, and has previously completed university courses in Media Studies and Corporate Governance. Concerned about the environment, Judd drives a Toyota Prius hybrid car and switched to "green power" at his former Perth house. He is also a registered organ donor.

Judd began to noticeably lose his hair in the 2003 season, and at the age of 23, he shaved it off completely.

Judd is dating model and speech pathology student Rebecca Twigley. On the night of Judd's Brownlow win she wore a revealing red dress which caused national comment.