http://realfooty.com.au/news/news/tigers-not-out-of-judd-picture/2007/10/03/1191091193757.htmlTigers not out of Judd picture
Steve Butler and Jake Niall | October 4, 2007
RICHMOND has ramped up the pressure on Carlton to come up with a suitable deal with West Coast by claiming it will have the salary cap room and financial backing to take Chris Judd in the pre-season draft.
The former Eagles captain, who is returning to Melbourne after six years in Perth, revealed on Tuesday he wanted to continue his career with the Blues.
But with West Coast and Carlton at a stand-off over the Blues' No. 1 pick in the national draft, the Tigers could still get Judd at the pre-season draft on December 11.
The Blues have the second pick in the pre-season draft and could get Judd for nothing if Richmond was unable to fit Judd in its salary cap.
West Coast will today have its first trade talks with Carlton, Eagles recruiting manager Trevor Woodhouse saying last night he would meet Carlton football operations manager Stephen Icke about Judd at the draft camp in Canberra.
Tigers football director Greg Miller and West Coast chief executive Trevor Nisbett have already held discussions about Judd — another indication that Richmond is positioning itself as a player in the Judd trade.
Miller said yesterday the club was focused on its youth policy but could take Judd if West Coast and the Blues could not agree on a deal next week.
"Ninety-nine times out of 100 in these cases Carlton would do the deal," Miller said.
"I can understand West Coast wanting No. 1, but Carlton will have to make the decision and we're not involved in the processes behind the scenes.
"We're not focusing on it at all, but we've made preparations and we're not too close to the salary cap in that regard and there's no financial preclusions on us at any level."