I never once expected Chris Judd to pull on the MFC jumper next year. Although he said many times that "money was not a factor", I couldn't help but consider his business aspirations in fashionable, cosmpolitan Melbourne. Along with his gorgeous partner in Rebecca Twigley, Chris Judd, quietly, strongly considered a life after football; what would it consist of and where would he be?
Chris Judd is the Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, Theiry Henry of AFL. There is no doubt about that. He is easily the greatest player of the past 10 years and would be an easy induction into the Hall of Fame if he retired today. He is, actually correction, was, one of the most beloved and fancied players in the league; people paid to see this guy play.
Today, he is one step closer to becoming one of two things. Firstly, he has lost some credibility. His "nice guy" personality that was perceived within the general football public is all but gone after his "decision" not to pick Melbourne as his club of choice. Such a personna would have been maintained had he chosen his boyhood team, the team he grew up idolising and loving; what person doesn't dream of leading their supported football club to glory? Today, he is a step closer to becoming a hypocrite. If Christopher was to choose Carlton in the following days, it would demonish any credibility in his reasoning not to come "home" to the MFC. Carlton have had no success and won't have any in the immediate future, and while they have a consistent training schedule and ground, they don't have state of the art facilities.
Secondly, if I were a Melbourne player, I probably wouldnt have cared much if he had of come to Melbourne. I understand what its like to play in a football team and, albeit not quite as professional, I know how hard it can be to lose a mate. Furthermore, I would have been offended with his decision not to come to Melbourne. Not because he didn't choose us, but why. To say our facilities do not meet his standards is an insulting, pretentious and arrogant comment. Chris Judd is not god and I don't think he will make any friends with that reasoning. By coming out and saying such a thing, he indicates that he believes he has more power than he thinks. Will a groin injury heal quicker at the Lexus Centre than it would at the MFC? If he does a hammy, will he be back quicker at Collingwood than what he would be at Melbourne? The reason is also naive. If Christopher was to choose Collingwood, he would be a sell-out. There is no doubt in my mind, and many other people's minds, that the off-field reputation at WC was a minor reason for his leaving. So why then would he be considering a move to a team that is the most hated and publicised in the city where AFL is at its strongest? He would be moving to the WC equivalent of Melbourne. However, Chris did mention that had WC been named the East Coast Eagles, he wouldn't have left, indicating it had nothing to do with the team itself but rather his family. This does seem somewhat suspicious though, as Judd's involvement in the media was never quite as influential as his old teammates and he has never seemed like the type that shines in the spotlight of paparazzi. There is something brewing between Chris Judd and Collingwood and unfortunately, it will never come out, but it lies beyond the simple "facilities" reasoning. Chris Judd needed more and he will get more either way.
Today, Chris Judd is one step closer to one more special thing. Something that has been passed down through the ages, and many other legends of the game have had this tag beside their name. For the day Chris Judd chooses Collingwood, he will no longer be the player everybody wants to watch, but rather the player everybody wants to beat. He will no longer be "that cute guy" or "the guy with that girlfriend", but rather "that good player for Collingwood."
The day Chris Judd chooses Collingwood will be the day Chris Judd becomes the most hated player in the AFL.
I'm not angry that he hasn't chosen Melbourne. Like I said before, I never believed it to be so. But I'm disappointed and insulted. Soon, Melbourne will be a force and he could have been a part of it. Today, as has been said before, is today and tomorrow is another day. As I'm sitting here writing this, I'm looking up at a little framed photo above my pool sticks. It's a photo of the 1900 MFC Premiership Side. There were no Judd's in that team. No Goodes'or Abletts. But rather players who played football to play football. They didn't care about what they had or where they trained. They played for the jumper and for each other. It's just not the same anymore. Chris Judd loves the MFC still, he just convinces himself that he doesn't. And today, he ended a relationship that lasted even through his WCE years. And I will be damned if he ever steps foot into a Melbourne facility, as a player, coach or trainer. For today, he become a life-long enemy.