Roy Park Blues
17 Sep 2007, 15:21
Judd leaving "for family reasons"
1:15 PM Mon 17 September, 2007 | Back (javascript:history.go(-1);)
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News
Winds of change batter Eagles (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=51199)
Sun, Sep 16, 07
Where will Chris Judd go? (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=51200)
Sun, Sep 16, 07
CHRIS Judd has explained his decision to leave West Coast, citing family reasons “not related to football”.
Fronting the media for the first time since confirming his return to Melbourne through his manager yesterday, Judd said the decision had been “incredibly difficult”.
“The reasons I’m moving home are not related to football,” Judd said. “When you are an AFL footballer, football still only makes up one part of your life. You’re still a son, a friend, a brother – not just a footballer. It’s sometimes hard to understand that from the outside looking in, that you do have other aspects to your life.”
Judd, 24, grew up in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, barracking for the Demons as a kid. He has spent six years in the west since being taken by the Eagles at pick three in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft.
“On the other side of the country there is a crew of people that are pretty excited about having me home and I’m excited about spending more time with them," he said.
“[Mum’s] rapt. She’s writing a new song. It’s called, ‘My boy’s coming home’. I’m going to do a rap verse in it.”
His current contract with West Coast expires at the end of 2007, and he said as early as two years ago he thought it “unlikely” that he would re-sign with the Eagles.
“I’ve known for quite a while,” Judd said, “…but this year my thoughts crystallised.”
“I didn’t look at an offer [from the Eagles] because I’d made up my mind.
“It is such a wonderful club,” he added. “I still captained the side as if I would be here forever. I gave as much as I could to the footy club. If the club was the East Coast Eagles, I would have signed a 10-year contract for under market price.”
Judd had a mixed season onfield, contributing several fine early performances before battling a groin injury in the second half of the year.
He kicked three goals despite being clearly restricted in the Eagles’ qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide, but finished the game on the bench and did not play in Friday’s extra-time loss to Collingwood at Subiaco Oval.
“It would have been great to have won a premiership and left on those terms,” Judd said. “But I don’t think I would have left the club with my fist clenched and punching the air … I’ve had six great years here and now I’m ready to move home.”
Judd will likely undergo groin surgery in the off-season, saying he would meet with a surgeon on Thursday.
He said he could say “with a clear conscience” that he had not yet spoken to any other club, saying only that he would join a Melbourne club.
He confirmed premiership glory is foremost in his mind as he begins his search for a new Victorian home.
“I want to go to a club that I can feel has a chance of being successful in the future,” he said.
“I will sit down with some Melbourne clubs in perhaps the next week or so. I will decide which club I want to go to.”
At the press conference at Subiaco Oval, Judd sat in a light blue tracksuit top, flanked by coach John Worsfold and chief executive officer Trevor Nisbett.
Worsfold said he was disappointed, although “not stunned” by the decision. He said the Eagles would meet later today to discuss what sort of compensation to seek for Judd.
“We know we’re not going to get another Chris Judd …we’re aiming for sustained success,” Worsfold said.
In addition to Judd’s 2006 premiership medallion, he has a 2004 Brownlow Medal, 2005 Norm Smith Medal, two club champion awards, an AFL Players Association MVP award and has captained West Coast since 2006, and Nisbett said Judd was “worth a lot” in trading negotiations.
“He’s our captain, he’s been one of the best players, if not the best player in the competition,” Nisbett said. “I think the clubs that Chris will talk to in the next few weeks will understand that.”
“We’ll expect the right value [for Judd]. The fortunate thing is Chris knows the game as well as we do.”
Earlier on Monday, Judd’s manager Paul Connors said Judd was unlikely to be swayed by the offer of a captaincy at his new club. He said Judd never sought the Eagles captaincy, and would prefer the chance to earn respect at a new club before considering a leadership position.
“[The offer of captaincy] might motivate him the other way,” Connors said on Melbourne sports radio station SEN.
“He didn’t want to be captain of the West Coast Eagles. But I think he realised after the whole Cousins incident, he was the best man to do it. He didn’t necessarily want to do it, but he thought he was the best man to do it.
“He may end up being the best person at the club, but you’d like to think he could spend a couple of years getting a bit of respect from the players before he was captain.”
Judd said he had “given no thought” to the issue of captaincy.
1:15 PM Mon 17 September, 2007 | Back (javascript:history.go(-1);)
Exclusive to AFL BigPond Network
News
Winds of change batter Eagles (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=51199)
Sun, Sep 16, 07
Where will Chris Judd go? (http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/News/NewsArticle/tabid/208/Default.aspx?newsId=51200)
Sun, Sep 16, 07
CHRIS Judd has explained his decision to leave West Coast, citing family reasons “not related to football”.
Fronting the media for the first time since confirming his return to Melbourne through his manager yesterday, Judd said the decision had been “incredibly difficult”.
“The reasons I’m moving home are not related to football,” Judd said. “When you are an AFL footballer, football still only makes up one part of your life. You’re still a son, a friend, a brother – not just a footballer. It’s sometimes hard to understand that from the outside looking in, that you do have other aspects to your life.”
Judd, 24, grew up in Melbourne’s bayside suburbs, barracking for the Demons as a kid. He has spent six years in the west since being taken by the Eagles at pick three in the 2001 NAB AFL Draft.
“On the other side of the country there is a crew of people that are pretty excited about having me home and I’m excited about spending more time with them," he said.
“[Mum’s] rapt. She’s writing a new song. It’s called, ‘My boy’s coming home’. I’m going to do a rap verse in it.”
His current contract with West Coast expires at the end of 2007, and he said as early as two years ago he thought it “unlikely” that he would re-sign with the Eagles.
“I’ve known for quite a while,” Judd said, “…but this year my thoughts crystallised.”
“I didn’t look at an offer [from the Eagles] because I’d made up my mind.
“It is such a wonderful club,” he added. “I still captained the side as if I would be here forever. I gave as much as I could to the footy club. If the club was the East Coast Eagles, I would have signed a 10-year contract for under market price.”
Judd had a mixed season onfield, contributing several fine early performances before battling a groin injury in the second half of the year.
He kicked three goals despite being clearly restricted in the Eagles’ qualifying final loss to Port Adelaide, but finished the game on the bench and did not play in Friday’s extra-time loss to Collingwood at Subiaco Oval.
“It would have been great to have won a premiership and left on those terms,” Judd said. “But I don’t think I would have left the club with my fist clenched and punching the air … I’ve had six great years here and now I’m ready to move home.”
Judd will likely undergo groin surgery in the off-season, saying he would meet with a surgeon on Thursday.
He said he could say “with a clear conscience” that he had not yet spoken to any other club, saying only that he would join a Melbourne club.
He confirmed premiership glory is foremost in his mind as he begins his search for a new Victorian home.
“I want to go to a club that I can feel has a chance of being successful in the future,” he said.
“I will sit down with some Melbourne clubs in perhaps the next week or so. I will decide which club I want to go to.”
At the press conference at Subiaco Oval, Judd sat in a light blue tracksuit top, flanked by coach John Worsfold and chief executive officer Trevor Nisbett.
Worsfold said he was disappointed, although “not stunned” by the decision. He said the Eagles would meet later today to discuss what sort of compensation to seek for Judd.
“We know we’re not going to get another Chris Judd …we’re aiming for sustained success,” Worsfold said.
In addition to Judd’s 2006 premiership medallion, he has a 2004 Brownlow Medal, 2005 Norm Smith Medal, two club champion awards, an AFL Players Association MVP award and has captained West Coast since 2006, and Nisbett said Judd was “worth a lot” in trading negotiations.
“He’s our captain, he’s been one of the best players, if not the best player in the competition,” Nisbett said. “I think the clubs that Chris will talk to in the next few weeks will understand that.”
“We’ll expect the right value [for Judd]. The fortunate thing is Chris knows the game as well as we do.”
Earlier on Monday, Judd’s manager Paul Connors said Judd was unlikely to be swayed by the offer of a captaincy at his new club. He said Judd never sought the Eagles captaincy, and would prefer the chance to earn respect at a new club before considering a leadership position.
“[The offer of captaincy] might motivate him the other way,” Connors said on Melbourne sports radio station SEN.
“He didn’t want to be captain of the West Coast Eagles. But I think he realised after the whole Cousins incident, he was the best man to do it. He didn’t necessarily want to do it, but he thought he was the best man to do it.
“He may end up being the best person at the club, but you’d like to think he could spend a couple of years getting a bit of respect from the players before he was captain.”
Judd said he had “given no thought” to the issue of captaincy.