Big Red is back
6 Jun 2008, 12:54
http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,23819172-19762,00.html
CARLTON knew Chris Judd's arrival at Princes Park was going to be big. But even it didn't envisage the money-spinning, marketing power of Judd incorporated.
"We haven't got the figures yet to back this up, but a few of us at the club have joked that Chris is almost paying his own wages," Carlton communications general manager Ian Coutts said yesterday.
Judd, who signed a six-year contract to join the Blues from West Coast, is estimated to be earning about $4 million over the six years, a figure that does not include private sponsorship arrangements.
But from the day he signed with Carlton in October last year, the Blues' souvenir shop has gone into overdrive.
Judd's No. 5 guernsey is far and away the best seller.
The club has had so many requests for replica Judd jumpers that for the first time in history, it manufactured jumpers with the No. 5 emblazoned on the back.
"Usually supporters buy a jumper and then request the number of their favourite player," Coutts said.
"But the No. 5 was running out the door so quickly we had them pre-done . . . and still we struggled to keep up with demand. They've just walked off the shelves."
Judd player badges are the next highest-selling item in a year Carlton merchandise sales are up 15 per cent.
Coutts said Judd's arrival also had signalled a 30 per cent rise in corporate sales, while club membership has just crashed through the 40,000 barrier for the first time - nearly 5000 more than last year's record of 35,431.
"We can't directly say Chris has brought in an extra 5000 members, but we know he has," Coutts said.
"His recruiting has just generated so much more enthusiasm around the place and a massive upsurge in support.
"When we signed Chris, our chief executive Greg Swann said he had recruited him for the long term, not the short term. But off the field, his impact has been instant."
CARLTON'S much-improved defender Paul Bower is likely to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Bower injured his shoulder when tackled by Geelong's Steve Johnson in last Saturday night's 56-point loss to the Cats. He will see a specialist today.
"Paul Bower might be out for the whole season," coach Brett Ratten said.
"He's got a shoulder, AC joint. It gets determined today whether it's surgery, which will probably be the season, and if it's not surgery, it won't be the season."
CARLTON knew Chris Judd's arrival at Princes Park was going to be big. But even it didn't envisage the money-spinning, marketing power of Judd incorporated.
"We haven't got the figures yet to back this up, but a few of us at the club have joked that Chris is almost paying his own wages," Carlton communications general manager Ian Coutts said yesterday.
Judd, who signed a six-year contract to join the Blues from West Coast, is estimated to be earning about $4 million over the six years, a figure that does not include private sponsorship arrangements.
But from the day he signed with Carlton in October last year, the Blues' souvenir shop has gone into overdrive.
Judd's No. 5 guernsey is far and away the best seller.
The club has had so many requests for replica Judd jumpers that for the first time in history, it manufactured jumpers with the No. 5 emblazoned on the back.
"Usually supporters buy a jumper and then request the number of their favourite player," Coutts said.
"But the No. 5 was running out the door so quickly we had them pre-done . . . and still we struggled to keep up with demand. They've just walked off the shelves."
Judd player badges are the next highest-selling item in a year Carlton merchandise sales are up 15 per cent.
Coutts said Judd's arrival also had signalled a 30 per cent rise in corporate sales, while club membership has just crashed through the 40,000 barrier for the first time - nearly 5000 more than last year's record of 35,431.
"We can't directly say Chris has brought in an extra 5000 members, but we know he has," Coutts said.
"His recruiting has just generated so much more enthusiasm around the place and a massive upsurge in support.
"When we signed Chris, our chief executive Greg Swann said he had recruited him for the long term, not the short term. But off the field, his impact has been instant."
CARLTON'S much-improved defender Paul Bower is likely to miss the rest of the season with a shoulder injury.
Bower injured his shoulder when tackled by Geelong's Steve Johnson in last Saturday night's 56-point loss to the Cats. He will see a specialist today.
"Paul Bower might be out for the whole season," coach Brett Ratten said.
"He's got a shoulder, AC joint. It gets determined today whether it's surgery, which will probably be the season, and if it's not surgery, it won't be the season."