People will say I am crazy but here is the case:
1. Refusal to sign new contract
Judd has refused to sign a new contract with the Eagles until the end of the season. He has said the following:
"I've signed a contract mid-year before and it didn't work," he said.
"I had a pretty ordinary month of football after that, so I won't be rushed into it.
"At the end of the season we'll sit down and work through it."
I think this is crap. I don't understand how waiting until the end of the year can be less distracting than getting a deal sorted early in the season and therefore not having to deal with the chronic speculation and hassle from the media about your future. Players intending on leaving their club will generally opt to postpone contract negotiations until the end of the season because it will make their departure less uncomfortable. They do not have to play along side team mates and in front of supporters who may in some instances feel betrayed (and often unjustifiably so).
You can be sure that West Coast would put together a very attractive deal for Judd at the drop of a hat. With the remainder of their star-studded midfield either in rehab, or generally out-of-control off the field, Judd has been the one shining light for the Eagles in the scandalous wake of their premiership glory. He is now the public face of the club, has a clean slate and is without question the best player in the country. Let's face it, Judd could name his price. The fact that he hasn't yet would not sit easy with me at all if I was an Eagles fan.
2. Likely return to Victoria
Ever since Judd made the move to the west, there have been rumours about a return to Victoria. Judd's family is based in Victoria and when he was drafted to the Eagles there seemed to be a general consenus that it would only be for a few years before he made the return home. He has stayed longer than most expected, no doubt allured by the promise of playing in one of the best teams in the comp and winning premierships. But Judd has now payed his dues. He has captained the club to a premiership and so would no longer feel indebted to the Eagles for giving him his AFL opporunity as a junior. And what else is there left to achieve at the Eagles?
This is not to say he would not have a lot of loyalty for the Eagles and his team mates, but would this really preside over loyalty to his friends and family in Victoria?
It is interesting also to note that Judd is yet to certify that he will be at the Eagles in 2008 and beyond (I base this on not having seen any evidence to the contrary). He has chosen his words carefully.
"I'm going to sit down with the club at the end of the year and discuss contract negotiations,
"That's always been the plan.
"There's always going to be speculation about me and my contract, but ... I'm looking forward to leading the club this year." (emphasis added)
But what about next year Chirs?
3. Suitability of Collingwood as a new club
If Judd does elect to go back to Victoria, it would probably be the biggest trade deal in AFL history (and by biggest, I mean most high-profile). Collingwood are just the sort of club that could get such a deal done. They will have learnt from their mistakes in letting Nick Stevens slip in 2003. Eddie would pull out all the stops.
Nathan Buckley is on his last legs. It is more than likely that he will retire at the end of the season. With Buckley gone, Collingwood will have a gaping whole in their salary cap. Buckley (in addition to Judd) is probably one of the 5 players that earnt more than $800,000 in 2006, and if not certainly one of the 7 players paid between $600,000 and $700,000.
Collingwood will also be in need of a new captain. As an AFL premiership captain, Judd would be a ready-made replacement. Turning 31 this year, James Clement would hardly be a suitable long term replacement and Anthony Rocca does not come across as the sharpest tool in the shed.
People will argue that Collingwood don't have the cattle to get the deal done. But I doubt that West Coast would really try to seek to replace what is irreplaceable. Instead they would look to the future and demand a plethora of draft picks (no doubt in addition to a couple of players). With many expecting Collingwood to be bottom 4 this season, they may just be in the position to do it. What will be interesting is towards the end of the season it Collingwood are near the bottom and speculation mounts that Judd will return to Victoria. Imagine Collingwood with the No. 1 draft pick as a bargaining chip. It would have two impacts; one being an attractive piece in any package offered to the Eagles and the other being pressure on the Eagles to cut a deal with Collingwood if Judd elects them as their club of choice because in default, they could loose him for nothing.
Finally, it is also known that Judd comes from a pro-Collingwood family. While I have also heard that he grew up barracking for Melbourne, I certainly know that members of his extended family are Collingwood fanatics.
Judd as Collingwood Captain is a perfect fit.
1. Refusal to sign new contract
Judd has refused to sign a new contract with the Eagles until the end of the season. He has said the following:
"I've signed a contract mid-year before and it didn't work," he said.
"I had a pretty ordinary month of football after that, so I won't be rushed into it.
"At the end of the season we'll sit down and work through it."
I think this is crap. I don't understand how waiting until the end of the year can be less distracting than getting a deal sorted early in the season and therefore not having to deal with the chronic speculation and hassle from the media about your future. Players intending on leaving their club will generally opt to postpone contract negotiations until the end of the season because it will make their departure less uncomfortable. They do not have to play along side team mates and in front of supporters who may in some instances feel betrayed (and often unjustifiably so).
You can be sure that West Coast would put together a very attractive deal for Judd at the drop of a hat. With the remainder of their star-studded midfield either in rehab, or generally out-of-control off the field, Judd has been the one shining light for the Eagles in the scandalous wake of their premiership glory. He is now the public face of the club, has a clean slate and is without question the best player in the country. Let's face it, Judd could name his price. The fact that he hasn't yet would not sit easy with me at all if I was an Eagles fan.
2. Likely return to Victoria
Ever since Judd made the move to the west, there have been rumours about a return to Victoria. Judd's family is based in Victoria and when he was drafted to the Eagles there seemed to be a general consenus that it would only be for a few years before he made the return home. He has stayed longer than most expected, no doubt allured by the promise of playing in one of the best teams in the comp and winning premierships. But Judd has now payed his dues. He has captained the club to a premiership and so would no longer feel indebted to the Eagles for giving him his AFL opporunity as a junior. And what else is there left to achieve at the Eagles?
This is not to say he would not have a lot of loyalty for the Eagles and his team mates, but would this really preside over loyalty to his friends and family in Victoria?
It is interesting also to note that Judd is yet to certify that he will be at the Eagles in 2008 and beyond (I base this on not having seen any evidence to the contrary). He has chosen his words carefully.
"I'm going to sit down with the club at the end of the year and discuss contract negotiations,
"That's always been the plan.
"There's always going to be speculation about me and my contract, but ... I'm looking forward to leading the club this year." (emphasis added)
But what about next year Chirs?
3. Suitability of Collingwood as a new club
If Judd does elect to go back to Victoria, it would probably be the biggest trade deal in AFL history (and by biggest, I mean most high-profile). Collingwood are just the sort of club that could get such a deal done. They will have learnt from their mistakes in letting Nick Stevens slip in 2003. Eddie would pull out all the stops.
Nathan Buckley is on his last legs. It is more than likely that he will retire at the end of the season. With Buckley gone, Collingwood will have a gaping whole in their salary cap. Buckley (in addition to Judd) is probably one of the 5 players that earnt more than $800,000 in 2006, and if not certainly one of the 7 players paid between $600,000 and $700,000.
Collingwood will also be in need of a new captain. As an AFL premiership captain, Judd would be a ready-made replacement. Turning 31 this year, James Clement would hardly be a suitable long term replacement and Anthony Rocca does not come across as the sharpest tool in the shed.
People will argue that Collingwood don't have the cattle to get the deal done. But I doubt that West Coast would really try to seek to replace what is irreplaceable. Instead they would look to the future and demand a plethora of draft picks (no doubt in addition to a couple of players). With many expecting Collingwood to be bottom 4 this season, they may just be in the position to do it. What will be interesting is towards the end of the season it Collingwood are near the bottom and speculation mounts that Judd will return to Victoria. Imagine Collingwood with the No. 1 draft pick as a bargaining chip. It would have two impacts; one being an attractive piece in any package offered to the Eagles and the other being pressure on the Eagles to cut a deal with Collingwood if Judd elects them as their club of choice because in default, they could loose him for nothing.
Finally, it is also known that Judd comes from a pro-Collingwood family. While I have also heard that he grew up barracking for Melbourne, I certainly know that members of his extended family are Collingwood fanatics.
Judd as Collingwood Captain is a perfect fit.
