Chris Judd
- This article is about the Australian Football captain. For the husband of Jennifer Lopez from 2001-2002, see Cris Judd.
| Chris Judd | |||
|---|---|---|---|
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| Personal information | |||
| Original team(s) | Caulfield Grammar/Sandringham Dragons | ||
| Debut | Round 2, 2002, West Coast Eagles vs. Collingwood Magpies, at MCG | ||
| Height / weight | 189cm / 85kg | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
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West Coast Eagles - 126 games, 131 goals | |||
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of R11, 2007. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
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West Coast Eagles
AFL
TAC Cup
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Christopher Dylan Judd (born 8 September, 1983) is the premiership captain of the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League. He is widely considered amongst the football public to be the most valuable player in the compeition at present, and it has been remarked that he could become one of the all time greats of the game.
Early history
Judd played his early football for East Sandringham Junior Football Club in Sandringham, Victoria, and was then made Captain of the First XVIII Football team at Caulfield Grammar School. Throughout his AFL career there has been ongoing speculation in the media that he may wish to return to play in Victoria, although Judd has continued to say that he wishes to remain in Western Australia playing for the West Coast Eagles.
Football career
Judd was selected by West Coast with the third pick in the 2001 AFL National Draft behind 2nd pick Luke Ball and 1st pick Luke Hodge, despite having had two shoulder reconstructions before the age of 18. He played just one game in the WAFL, for East Perth - Kicking 4 goals and getting a maximum 5 votes in the Sandover Medal count - before the Eagles decided he was ready for his AFL debut.
Judd made an immediate impact from his debut against Collingwood in Round 2, 2002 and went on to finish third in West Coast's club champion award that year. For his efforts in the 2002 season, Judd was selected to play for Australia against Ireland in the two-match International Rules series played in Dublin.
In 2004, the then 20-year-old Judd was appointed one of four Eagles vice captains. He would later serve as West Coast's acting captain for five matches as Ben Cousins battled with injury. He was also named to his first All Australian Team as a wingman, and won his first West Coast Eagles’ Club Champion award for best and fairest player. Also in 2004, Judd became the first West Coast Eagle to win the Brownlow Medal for the best and fairest player in the AFL, as judged by the umpires.
In 2005, Judd won the Norm Smith Medal in the AFL Grand Final as West Coast lost to the Sydney Swans by four points. On March 1, 2006, Judd was named captain of the West Coast Eagles, succeeding Ben Cousins, who resigned the position after failing to stop for a police breath test and subsequently being charged on summons.
In 2006, Judd won the Leigh Matthews Trophy as being judged the Most Valuable Player in the AFL by his peers. As well as this, he received his 2nd All Australian jumper. Judd beat Brownlow Medallist Adam Goodes comfortably to win his first MVP award. Two days later he captained the Eagles to a thrilling one point victory over Sydney in the 2006 AFL Grand Final.
Judd will be out of contract at the end of the 2007 season. Even more so than other players who are at clubs outside the state they grew up in, there has been speculation that he may want to return home in the 2008 season. In an interview with Shane Crawford, Judd has hinted at staying in Perth. [1] He has also recently come under question for the "protection" given out by the umpires to him during some AFL matches in 2007. [2]
Personal life
Judd writes a column for local Melbourne newspaper The Age, and also Juddy's Jibe which appears on the West Coast Eagles website. Some of his expressed views have prompted much media commentary, such as his view that footballers are not role models, and referring to football life as being like a tribal ant.
Concerned about the environment, Chris Judd has revealed that he has switched to "green power" at his Perth home. To lower fuel consumption, Chris has replaced his Holden HSV V8 for a Toyota Prius hybrid car.[3]
He is dating model and summer weather presenter Rebecca Twigley. On the night of Judd's Brownlow win she wore a revealing red dress which caused national comment. Judd was concerned about Twigley having a "wardrobe malfunction" but Twigley lapped up the subsequent media attention and used it to create a media profile for herself.
External links
- Chris Judd's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Juddy's Jibe on westcoasteagles.com.au