Judd is, truly, an inside player. His advice to the impatient masses is not to expect the stellar Judd early in the 2008 season. He is recovering from a groin injury, and an operation he now reckons might have been unnecessary.

"Had I had my time over, I’d think long and hard about having surgery at all." Judd, a reader of The Australian Financial Review, is dampening initial market expectations.

"Yeah, I think it will take a while. I don’t think I’ll bowl into the season the same way I bowled into last season or the season before. I mean, just because of my preseason, I’ve only been kicking for a month. I’m still yet to do any competitive work."

................

The most painful lesson of 2007 was that he should not have kept playing injured, as he did in late in the season. "It was a dumb decision. I’m lucky to have gotten out of it . . . the groin’s pretty good now. "I’m pretty close to actually being able to play. But it’s just a case if I do too much, then they flare up and they get sore and then I’ve just got to back off for a while."

"The most painful lesson of 2007 was that he should not have kept playing injured, as he did in late in the season. "It was a dumb decision. I’m lucky to have gotten out of it . . . the groin’s pretty good now. "I’m pretty close to actually being able to play. But it’s just a case if I do too much, then they flare up and they get sore and then I’ve just got to back off for a while.""

Should not under any circumstance play the first few rounds of the season. And I don't care how many on here feel he should play so they can rock up to work on monday and say to their mates "Juddy played for us on the weekend.. helped us beat richmond". etc.

West Coast nearly mucked him up last year. We cannot do the same. We have to take al ong term view with this. He should be rested until his groin is not only 100 per cent, but has been 100 per cent for about a month. The saints rushed luke ball back and it has ruined his career.

From people I have spoken to Judd should be absolutely back to his best football. No doubt about it. But it takes time. It might take two weeks or it might take twenty. If we rush him back that threatens his long term future. If he's not ready by round 1 then he does not play. Simple. It's pretty obvious from reading these articles that he's on the road to recovery but he's not there yet. He'll be ready but we need to be patient. Should not play round 1 in my opinion. Period. Play him when his groin has been 100 per cent for a month. If that's round 8 or round 18 so be it.
We're not winning premierships this year. We're winning premierships in 2010 and that's when we'll need Judd at his best. And he'll be at his best by then guaranteed if we don't rush him this year.

My washing machine agitates less than you BO.

I'm sure that the specialists who have managed Judd to date will have an excellent grasp on his condition and what is best for his long term future.
They even (shock, horror!) will have a better idea than your good self.
Have faith.

My washing machine agitates less than you BO.

I'm sure that the specialists who have managed Judd to date will have an excellent grasp on his condition and what is best for his long term future.
They even (shock, horror!) will have a better idea than your good self.
Have faith.

Enough of the baiting please everyone.


That article was terrific. It showed how different Judd is from the "average" footballer.

We as a club are fortunate to have wooed him over to us. Fingers crossed for his recovery. This truly is a new beginning for the Blues.

We can all agree on beating Richmond then?