Race to bring Judd back home
15 September 2007 Herald Sun
Mike Sheahan
VICTORIA'S most powerful clubs are jockeying for position in what looms as a $5 million race for West Coast champion Chris Judd.
Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon head the pack, with Richmond, which holds first pick in the pre-season draft, expected to join in.
All expect Judd to announce his intention to return home to Victoria within four to five days of West Coast's exit from the premiership race.
The Eagles also are understood to be bracing themselves for his departure.
Judd, recently turned 24, is out of contract after the current season. His refusal to re-commit at any time during the past 12 months has pointed to a return to Melbourne for the second half of his stellar career.
While he hasn't had any contact with other clubs, his manager Paul Connors has been fielding approaches from at least Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon.
Offers are likely to extend to as long as five years and at least $5 million.
Connors is in Perth this weekend, staying with the star midfielder, who missed last night's clash with Collingwood through injury.
Also in Perth is Carlton's football operations manager Steven Icke, en route from South Africa and planning to speak with Connors.
The Blues are geared for a massive tilt at Judd.
They offered Matthew Pavlich $4 million for four years before he re-signed with Fremantle, and will go even higher for Judd.
Pavlich and his management reportedly gave the offer due consideration before deciding to stay with the Dockers.
What is known as fact is Carlton has scope under the salary cap, and the money and the inclination to offer Judd whatever it takes.
The Blues also have the rich and powerful Richard Pratt impatient for progress.
They have bargaining power, too, with draft choices 1, 3 and 20. The first pick is reserved for Matthew Kreuzer, but No. 3 is negotiable.
It just so happens the player ranked nominally as the likely No. 2 or No. 3 is West Australian Cale Morton, younger brother of West Coast's Mitch.
The Blues also have Josh Kennedy, a 20-year-old centre half-forward, who comes from East Fremantle and was taken at No. 4 in the 2005 national draft. They don't want to lose him, but West Coast will drive a hard bargain.
Collingwood has been positioning itself for a crack at Judd for many weeks.
The Magpies last year offered Jonathan Brown $6 million for five years.
They have less than Carlton to offer West Coast in terms of draft picks, given they won't have a top-10 choice.
Historically, West Coast hasn't wanted to deal with Collingwood, with Fraser Gehrig the most famous example, snatched from the Pies by St Kilda at the death.
Essendon is right in the mix.
The Bombers finished 12th, giving them an early draft choice, and money is no object. They do have one major problem, though, the continuing indecision on the coaching job.
While Judd's stocks have fallen slightly given his chronic injury problem in recent months, post-season surgery is expected to see him make a full recovery.
He is widely believed to have a groin problem, although one source at an interested club says it is more likely to be a bone spur on a hip.
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