Bring on Cousins - Chris Judd

[Aphrodite]

http://www.news.com.au/heraldsun/sport/afl/story/0,26576,25213133-19742,00.html

CARLTON captain Chris Judd can't wait to line up against former teammate and Richmond recruit Ben Cousins, and is predicting they will be direct opponents at times on Thursday night.

Judd has been in regular contact with Cousins, whose erratic behaviour led to him taking over the West Coast captaincy in 2006, and said the former Eagle was ready and raring to go.

The Richmond-Carlton blockbuster, which will open the season on Thursday - should draw more than 80,000 fans to the MCG.

Judd revealed yesterday he had finally been able to do the leg weights that have given him back his breakneck speed and power after groin problems.

And with Cousins fresh from two excellent pre-season performances for Richmond, fellow Brownlow medallist Judd said he was counting down the days to the Round 1 clash.

"I really am (looking forward) to it. Like everyone I have followed his progress and by the sounds of it he had a great game on the weekend, so we are looking forward to playing not only him, but the entire Richmond football club next Thursday," Judd said.

While Judd is sure to have a Tiger tagger such as Daniel Jackson firmly at his side for most of the night, he said he and Cousins were sure to cross paths.

Two of the champions of the modern era are ready to square off against each other, even if only briefly.

"Particularly with the way teams are zoning now, a lot of the time you are not on any one player for any period of time, so there's every possibility we will play on each other for a time, and it will be exciting," Judd said.

"He is going really well. I had a quick chat to him maybe a week ago on the phone. I think I am doing something for his (Nova) radio segment next week. He is going really well," Judd said.

Judd said Carlton was wary of paying attention only to Cousins, and would instead ensure it gave appropriate respect to the whole side.

"The focus won't (just) be on him from our point of view. In the press there will be a lot of focus on him, but from our point of view we will be focusing on the entire footy side," he said.

Carlton was yesterday unanimously chosen by rival skippers as a side that would make the top eight this year, an endorsement that caught Judd off guard.

"It's a surprise. Playing for Carlton you balance the fact we are enthusiastic and hopeful of having a good season, but we have to be realistic," he said.

"We haven't played finals for a very long time. It's a compliment that the other captains thought we would make the eight, but we have got a long way to go."

Judd said spearhead Brendan Fevola was off crutches after bruising his heel against Fremantle last week and was certain to play against the Tigers.

He also forecast a possible Round 1 debut for young forward Jeff Gartlett, who has impressed in the pre-season.

The Blues captain said an ability to hit the gym hard after successful groin surgery meant he had his spring and zest back where he wanted it.

"The last two years I haven't really been able to do any meaningful leg weights and I have been able to have a go at them this year," Judd said.

"It's more about power and hitting full speed and full strength."

 

[Jeremias]

Judd saying Garlett a chance to debut?

Unless we elevate someone for Warnock's LTI (which I thought we said we weren't going to...) then Juddy has his wires crossed.

 

[Aphrodite]

Judd saying Garlett a chance to debut?

Unless we elevate someone for Warnock's LTI (which I thought we said we weren't going to...) then Juddy has his wires crossed.

Good point J, I missed that.

Can we still elevate someone for Warnock's LTI by next Thursday or was that also part of the cut off date 2 days ago?

Maybe Juddy knows something we don't

 

[Jeremias]

Don't think there is a cut-off for elevating someone for Warnock's LTI (except obviously the time that Warnock is ready to return) so it certainly is not completely out of the question.

I would be surprised but Ratts seems to be a big fan and has said that he would like to see Eddie, Yarran and Jeffrey all in the same forward line so I guess that would extend to the proper stuff and not just the NAB Cup.

Juddy's comments at first look to be an oversight but there certainly may be something more to them than first thought.

 

[iRemember87]

Good point J, I missed that.

Can we still elevate someone for Warnock's LTI by next Thursday or was that also part of the cut off date 2 days ago?

Maybe Juddy knows something we don't

No cut off, pay the $10K fee and the same day i'ms ure they can play.

RFC did that with the little rat Howat last year before Hartlett smack him one!!

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

Agree we have to consentrate on more than just Cousins next Thursday.

 

[40yearBLUE]

Agree we have to consentrate on more than just Cousins next Thursday.

I doubt Cousins will have the impact people think he will, its all hype. He will flash in and out all game but he wont be as influential as he once was on a game, not first up anyway.

Do you ever sleep? you last posted at 2.36am!! I'm putting that blatent spelling infringement down to Sleep Deprivation!

 

[Juddys_navy_blues]

I doubt Cousins will have the impact people think he will, its all hype. He will flash in and out all game but he wont be as influential as he once was on a game, not first up anyway.

Do you ever sleep? you last posted at 2.36am!! I'm putting that blatent spelling infringement down to Sleep Deprivation!

I sleep a few hours here and there, but never to long.

 

[40yearBLUE]

I sleep a few hours here and there, but never to long.

Be careful of that, sleep dep has serious health implications. It seriously messes with immune systems.

 

[40yearBLUE]

Something else that Juddy said (or didnt say!) yesterday that tweaked my interest. He said that sooner or later someone would come up with a way to beat rolling zone defences. Makes me think we already have a plan and have kept it under wraps.

 

[ctacp]

"The Blues captain said an ability to hit the gym hard after successful groin surgery meant he had his spring and zest back where he wanted it. "
-
That was actually a quote by twiggers...

ctacp
curlier than a catoggio pube

 

[Faz 2000]

Siiiigh. I think I need to have a cat-fight with the Twig for Juddy's love.

I could not love this guy any more.

 

[Pamam]

Siiiigh. I think I need to have a cat-fight with the Twig for Juddy's love.

I could not love this guy any more.

Ca--Ca. Ca-ca-ca-- Catfight!!!

 

[thylacine60]

Be careful of that, sleep dep has serious health implications. It seriously messes with immune systems.

I'm ankle deep in weeping ulcers that refuse to heal and now he tells me!

 

[Murph_The_Smurf]

Something else that Juddy said (or didnt say!) yesterday that tweaked my interest. He said that sooner or later someone would come up with a way to beat rolling zone defences. Makes me think we already have a plan and have kept it under wraps.

Or maybe your reading to much into a comment , could just mean what it means , i know if i want to keep something a secret i just shut my gob .

 

[CJudd3Votes]

Siiiigh. I think I need to have a cat-fight with the Twig for Juddy's love.

I could not love this guy any more.

Same here.

 

[PeeKay]

A secret to handle rolling zones, I doubt it. Every club has the opposition watching all their training methods and you can't have a successful "surprise" method without doing lots of training trials and the opposition would see that.

 

[THE BRICKMAN]

would love to see garlett, eddie or yarran run down cousins whilst game is in the balance

 

[snorkels]

I doubt Cousins will have the impact people think he will, its all hype. He will flash in and out all game but he wont be as influential as he once was on a game, not first up anyway.

Do you ever sleep? you last posted at 2.36am!! I'm putting that blatent spelling infringement down to Sleep Deprivation!

And your lucky she really cant spell "Blue" or she would have you for blatant


Cousins wont be firing up until about round 5...peaking for round 18 would be perfect!!! yeah!!!!!

 

[Western Blue]

And your lucky she really cant spell "Blue" or she would have you for blatant


Cousins wont be firing up until about round 5...peaking for round 18 would be perfect!!! yeah!!!!!

Something Benny knows all to well