Dual Brownlow medallist and captain of the West Coast Eagles 2006 premiership team, Chris Judd, has tonight been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame – immediately upon becoming eligible.
The supremely balanced and athletic midfielder is one of the rare players to make an impact as soon as he entered the elite level.
Drafted with selection No.3 in the 2001 ballot, ‘slipping’ down the order because he required shoulder surgery in his late teens, Judd made his senior debut with the Eagles against Collingwood in round two, 2002.
He won a Rising Star nomination after a stunning first-up performance against Collingwood, played every game for the remainder of the season and finished third in the Club Champion Award. In his first five seasons, that was his lowest finish in what is now the John Worsfold Medal.
The brilliant midfielder announced himself with a bang and by the time he had registered his 100th game in the middle of the 2006 season, against Essendon at Telstra Dome, pundits across the country pondered whether there had been a more remarkable start to a career in history.
Boasting explosive pace, remarkable balance and poise he won every possible accolade in a distinguished career, initially at the West Coast Eagles and then, from 2008, with Carlton.
He was the first Eagle to win a Brownlow Medal in 2004, won two Club Champion Awards, the AFL Players Association Rookie of the Year (2002) and an MVP (2006), as well as three Ross Glendinning medals and the Norm Smith Medal in the 2005 losing grand final.
Such was his standing at the club that he assumed the captaincy in 2006, enjoying the moment of which dreams are made when he stood on the dais to receive the premiership cup on the last Saturday in September.
Judd continued his burgeoning career when he returned to his home state of Victoria, adding three consecutive John Nicholls Medals (2008-10) as Carlton’s fairest and best as well as the 2010 Brownlow Medal.
West Coast Eagles chief executive Trevor Nisbett said he was thrilled with Judd’s selection into the Hall of Fame.
“We knew from the outset that Chris was a sensational young player and he went on to become a generational player,” Nisbett said.
“The way he was able to impact the highest level of the game immediately is a rarity.
“He won every conceivable individual honour available and capped off his time at our club by being captain of our 2006 premiership team.
"Chris was an outstanding player and leader and everyone at our club is delighted for him on this latest acknowledgment.”
Chris Judd career achievements
West Coast Eagles
134 games, 138 goals
AFLPA Rookie of the Year 2002
AFLCA Rookie of the Year 2002
West Coast Eagles Emerging Talent 2002
Club Champion 2004, 2006
Runner-up Club Champion 2003-05
Brownlow Medallist 2004
Player of the finals 2004-05-06
Norm Smith Medallist 2005
All-Australian 2004, 2006
Glendinning Medal 2005 (2), 2006
Premiership player 2006
Captain 2006-07
Leigh Matthews Meal (AFLPA MVP) 2006
Hall of Game 2021
Life member 2018
Carlton
145 games, 90 goals
Brownlow Medal 2010
Leigh Matthews Medal 2011
Captain 2008-12
John Nicholls Medal 2008-09-10
All-Australian 2008-09-10-11
Madden Medal 2015
State honours
Represented Victoria 2008
International honours
International Rules v Ireland 2002
Additional
AFL life member 2015
