Tricky_Ricky2
25 Sep 2006, 19:28
Thought you folks might like this article about the one and only Chris Judd. As an Essendon supporter, Matthew Lloyd is my favourite player, but Judd is a very close second. He is marvellous, exciting and a true champion at the age of 23 - just sensational, and you guys are so lucky to have him. (And I am so envious!)
Here's the story, which was in the AFL Record over the weekend.
Inside the mind of a superstar
8:00:47 PM Fri 22 September, 2006
Callum Twomey
AFL Record
When reigning Brownlow Medallist and West Coast champion Ben Cousins was relieved of his club's captaincy on the eve of the 2006 season, there were many questions regarding his likely replacement.
Would it be the obvious candidate, Chris Judd? Was it true that Judd was unhappy over some of the issues, and in turn did not want to take the captaincy under these circumstances? Could it be the more experienced Dean Cox or Andrew Embley who would get the nod? Was Judd being put under pressure to take the role that he looked destined to hold since he burst on to the scene in 2002?
In the end, it was Judd who stepped up, but he insists there was no force in the Eagles' offer. "There was no real pressure put on by the club for me to take on the captaincy other than I guess the implied pressure one could feel when they're offered something. I didn't feel that the club played on this at all though," Judd said.
Cousins, however, has not lost his standing among the players as a leader, and Judd says it has been handy having his input.
"It's very helpful having Ben around. I seek out his advice, as well as the other four players in the leadership group. Having such a strong leadership group as a whole makes my job very easy," he said.
For many, it seemed a case of when, not if, Judd would be captain. Now in his fifth season, he has already taken home a Brownlow Medal (2004), a Norm Smith Medal (2005) and a best and fairest (2004).
He has again been in superb form this season, and is third favourite for the Brownlow Medal, despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. Averaging 26 possessions per game, he has statistically had a better season than in 2004, when he polled
30 votes to be the first Eagle to win the prestigious award.
"I've been happy with my contribution to the side this year. It's difficult to compare years, or even games because they're all different, but as I said I'm happy with what I've given the side so far," he said.
One reason the Eagles have been rated so highly is because of their wins over Adelaide in rounds two and 17, the latter coming when the Crows were in sparkling form.
However, Judd says there is no clear reason for their dominance over the Crows.
"We just seem to match up well against Adelaide. I don't think there's any particular reason why we've had good results against them in the past couple of years," he said.
It was a preliminary final victory over the Crows that propelled West Coast into last season's epic Grand Final against Sydney, where the Eagles fell an agonising four points short.
Judd, who had carried sensational form into the premiership decider, won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground, albeit in what was a bittersweet moment.
"When I was presented with the Norm Smith Medal, my mind was very much on the fact that we hadn't won the game and that was what we set out to do. So I was disappointed about that," he said.
With a hint of determination, matched with a focused outlook on the future, Judd was even blunter when talking about the game itself.
"I don't think about the Grand Final loss much at all now. I've definitely moved on," he said.
Perhaps one reason why he's put it behind him is that he is in such high demand as a footballer, person and a business director.
"I'm very busy outside of football. Being an AFL player these days, there is so much more to it than just playing games and training," he said.
"It has become a real business, and as such there are a lot of commitments with sponsors and various other support groups which do take up a lot of time.
"I've also got some other personal commitments, such as (a columnist for) The Sunday Age, and being a director of a software company MyInventory, so things are pretty busy at the minute."
The Eagles' 2005 season was marked by criticism of their forward line, which failed to make an impact on Grand Final day.
Already without top goalkicker Phillip Matera because of injury, selectors dropped the out-of-form Quinten Lynch, and thus, went into the game without their two leading goalkickers. Moreover, after kicking just seven goals, external pressure was placed on the forwards, but Judd says the talk about improving just the forward line was over-exaggerated.
"We worked hard at improving every aspect of our game during the pre-season," he said. "A lot got made of our forward line, however, we didn't spend any more time on that than the other parts of the team."
However, there can be no denying the forward line has improved markedly this season. Lynch has stepped up to be a leading, marking, long and straight goalkicking presence, who gives his midfielders somebody to go to with confidence.
With a fit-and-firing Lynch, a stronger lead-in than last year and Judd at his prime, the Eagles will be hard to stop.
But Judd hasn't altered his regular preparation. To him, finals are just another game.
"As much as finals games are sometimes more congested than normal games, they're still just games of footy. As such, I haven't changed my routine," he said.
It's a routine that has served him, and the club, very well over the past five seasons.
Callum Twomey is a Year 11 student at Caulfield Grammar where Chris Judd completed his education.
Here's the link - http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=aflrecord&spg=display&articleid=299464
I am going this week and will be barracking very hard for your mob!
Go Eagles!
Here's the story, which was in the AFL Record over the weekend.
Inside the mind of a superstar
8:00:47 PM Fri 22 September, 2006
Callum Twomey
AFL Record
When reigning Brownlow Medallist and West Coast champion Ben Cousins was relieved of his club's captaincy on the eve of the 2006 season, there were many questions regarding his likely replacement.
Would it be the obvious candidate, Chris Judd? Was it true that Judd was unhappy over some of the issues, and in turn did not want to take the captaincy under these circumstances? Could it be the more experienced Dean Cox or Andrew Embley who would get the nod? Was Judd being put under pressure to take the role that he looked destined to hold since he burst on to the scene in 2002?
In the end, it was Judd who stepped up, but he insists there was no force in the Eagles' offer. "There was no real pressure put on by the club for me to take on the captaincy other than I guess the implied pressure one could feel when they're offered something. I didn't feel that the club played on this at all though," Judd said.
Cousins, however, has not lost his standing among the players as a leader, and Judd says it has been handy having his input.
"It's very helpful having Ben around. I seek out his advice, as well as the other four players in the leadership group. Having such a strong leadership group as a whole makes my job very easy," he said.
For many, it seemed a case of when, not if, Judd would be captain. Now in his fifth season, he has already taken home a Brownlow Medal (2004), a Norm Smith Medal (2005) and a best and fairest (2004).
He has again been in superb form this season, and is third favourite for the Brownlow Medal, despite missing three games with a hamstring injury. Averaging 26 possessions per game, he has statistically had a better season than in 2004, when he polled
30 votes to be the first Eagle to win the prestigious award.
"I've been happy with my contribution to the side this year. It's difficult to compare years, or even games because they're all different, but as I said I'm happy with what I've given the side so far," he said.
One reason the Eagles have been rated so highly is because of their wins over Adelaide in rounds two and 17, the latter coming when the Crows were in sparkling form.
However, Judd says there is no clear reason for their dominance over the Crows.
"We just seem to match up well against Adelaide. I don't think there's any particular reason why we've had good results against them in the past couple of years," he said.
It was a preliminary final victory over the Crows that propelled West Coast into last season's epic Grand Final against Sydney, where the Eagles fell an agonising four points short.
Judd, who had carried sensational form into the premiership decider, won the Norm Smith Medal for best on ground, albeit in what was a bittersweet moment.
"When I was presented with the Norm Smith Medal, my mind was very much on the fact that we hadn't won the game and that was what we set out to do. So I was disappointed about that," he said.
With a hint of determination, matched with a focused outlook on the future, Judd was even blunter when talking about the game itself.
"I don't think about the Grand Final loss much at all now. I've definitely moved on," he said.
Perhaps one reason why he's put it behind him is that he is in such high demand as a footballer, person and a business director.
"I'm very busy outside of football. Being an AFL player these days, there is so much more to it than just playing games and training," he said.
"It has become a real business, and as such there are a lot of commitments with sponsors and various other support groups which do take up a lot of time.
"I've also got some other personal commitments, such as (a columnist for) The Sunday Age, and being a director of a software company MyInventory, so things are pretty busy at the minute."
The Eagles' 2005 season was marked by criticism of their forward line, which failed to make an impact on Grand Final day.
Already without top goalkicker Phillip Matera because of injury, selectors dropped the out-of-form Quinten Lynch, and thus, went into the game without their two leading goalkickers. Moreover, after kicking just seven goals, external pressure was placed on the forwards, but Judd says the talk about improving just the forward line was over-exaggerated.
"We worked hard at improving every aspect of our game during the pre-season," he said. "A lot got made of our forward line, however, we didn't spend any more time on that than the other parts of the team."
However, there can be no denying the forward line has improved markedly this season. Lynch has stepped up to be a leading, marking, long and straight goalkicking presence, who gives his midfielders somebody to go to with confidence.
With a fit-and-firing Lynch, a stronger lead-in than last year and Judd at his prime, the Eagles will be hard to stop.
But Judd hasn't altered his regular preparation. To him, finals are just another game.
"As much as finals games are sometimes more congested than normal games, they're still just games of footy. As such, I haven't changed my routine," he said.
It's a routine that has served him, and the club, very well over the past five seasons.
Callum Twomey is a Year 11 student at Caulfield Grammar where Chris Judd completed his education.
Here's the link - http://afl.com.au/default.asp?pg=aflrecord&spg=display&articleid=299464
I am going this week and will be barracking very hard for your mob!
Go Eagles!