UPDATE: Carlton’s Chris Judd has officially announced his retirement from the AFL, effective immediately, at a press conference earlier today.
Judd’s retirement comes following an ACL rupture he suffered on Saturday at the MCG in Carlton’s 9-point loss to the Adelaide Crows.
» Superman out west: Remembering Chris Judd at his peak
» FULL STORY: Chris Judd announces retirement from AFL footy
Judd left the ground in the first quarter after landing awkwardly, having taken a contested mark over Adelaide’s Patrick Dangerfield.
Asked after the incident by Channel Seven if he was worried that he might have played his last AFL game, Judd gave a simple answer: “Yep.”
Judd faces a likely 12-month stint on the sidelines as he recovers from the injury before he would be fit to return to the field.
Judd said that once he learned he had done his ACL, he never considered himself a chance of playing on.
Judd’s career has spanned 134 games for West Coast and 145 for Carlton, for a total of 279 AFL games since being selected by the Eagles at pick no. 3 in the 2001 AFL draft.
Judd won his first Brownlow Medal in 2004, just three years into his AFL career, and was the first West Coast player in the club’s history to win the league’s highest honour.
He won the Norm Smith medal in a losing side in the 2005 Grand Final before captaining the Eagles to their third and most recent AFL premiership in 2006.
Injuries hampered Judd’s 2007 season and, shortly after the Eagles were eliminated from finals, he announced his decision to leave the club and seek a trade to Victoria.
A deal was eventually struck that saw Judd move to Carlton in exchange for young key forward Josh J Kennedy and a number of high draft picks.
Judd was named the Carlton captain before even playing a game for the club, and held that role for five years before voluntarily giving it up at the end of the 2012 season.
He won a second Brownlow Medal in 2010, becoming only the fourth player in VFL/AFL history to win a Brownlow at multiple clubs.
At what looks like the end of his career, he has accrued a huge list of accolades and achievements – six All-Australian guernseys, five Best and Fairest awards (two at West Coast, three at Carlton), 2 AFLPA MVP awards, and 3 Ross Glendinning Medals.
Join The Roar for live coverage of Chris Judd’s press conference from 10.30am AEST.
Josh
Expert
That's the end of it. Let me say, it's been simply incredible to watch Judd over the years. For me he is in the top few players I have watched in my time as a footy fan. Players of his ilk will never be forgotten.
Josh
Expert
Blues have locked in a celebration game for Judd against Melbourne in Round 21.
Josh
Expert
Judd's conference finishes with a round of applause.
Josh
Expert
Asked how he'd like to be remembered Judd says "just as a country boy with a heart of gold. Not being from the country, that's going to be hard."
Josh
Expert
Says one of the things he'd do if he had his time over again would be to appreciate things more as they were happening rather than always focusing on what to do next.
Josh
Expert
Says he'll continue to barrack for Carlton.
Josh
Expert
Says he would be happy to see his son Oscar take up footy but is happy for him to do what he wants.
Josh
Expert
Of his suspensions Judd says "I feel like I've been involved in thousands of moments on a football field... a few of them were bad decisions but I take them in line with thousands of good decisions."
Josh
Expert
Judd says to get 279 games out of his body given he had 2 shoulder reconstructions before the age of 17 has been good value. Says he won't be the first AFL player to leave the game a bit worse for wear.
Josh
Expert
Judd says a couple of his match ups with Adam Goodes when they were both at the peak of their careers are probably the most memorable of his career.
Josh
Expert
Judd says that even at their best Carlton were "still a fair way off" challenging for a premiership.
Josh
Expert
Judd says "the growth is starting to come" at Carlton after bottoming out.
Josh
Expert
It's the mark of a team man that when Judd's asked about his best career achievements he just talks about team achievements.
Josh
Expert
Judd says 2006 Premiership win stands head and shoulders above the rest as an achievement. Remembers finals wins over Essendon and Richmond as the best days of his Carlton career.
Josh
Expert
Judd says it had become incredibly hard to play week-in, week-out. Says he looks forward to not having that pressure.
Josh
Expert
Judd says when he told his son Oscar he wouldn't be playing footy anymore, he told him he should play soccer.
Josh
Expert
"I'll never be slagging off in the media if they (Carlton) have a crappy loss."
Josh
Expert
"Joining a football club is a little like having a kid... that club becomes a little part of you."
Josh
Expert
Why was it the wrong decision? "Probably because I didn't play a win, and I've gotta have a knee reco in two weeks".
Josh
Expert
Judd doesn't mince words, says his decision to play on was "the wrong decision, made for the right reasons."