Former AFL player and coach Ken Judge has died after a long battle with cancer. Judge had battled myeloma, a rare cancer of the blood plasma cells, and had suffered a relapse in 2012.
The Hawks and Eagles have led the tributes to Judge. “The club sends its condolences to family and friends of premiership Hawk and former coach Ken Judge, who has passed away today,” Hawthorn posted on Twitter.
After a distinguished career in Western Australia for WAFL side East Fremantle, Judge made the move to Melbourne and played 72 games for Hawthorn between 1983 and 86, winning the club’s ‘best first year player’ award on the way to becoming a member of their ‘83 premiership team.
He also played in Hawthorn’s losing 1984 and 1985 grand final sides but missed selection in their 1986 Premiership team. The half-forward then played 17 games for the fledgling Brisbane between 1987 and 1988.
Judge went on to coach Hawthorn from 1996 until 1999 and West Coast in the 2000 and 2001 seasons, leading those sides in a combined 133 games. After coaching Judge moved into radio commentary and was part of the ABC team calling last season’s Grand Final, in which Hawthorn won their third consecutive Premiership.
Hawks team-mates Robert DiPierdomenico and Terry Wallace remembered Judge as a skilled team-mate and someone who thought deeply about the game. “He had a wicked sense of humour but, when he delivered the ball, you knew exactly where to go and he would hit you on the chest,” DiPierdomenico told SEN radio.
Wallace also noted that Judge was one of the keys to Hawthorn becoming a premiership team. “He was the finishing touches to us,” Wallace said. “We made a preliminary final in 1982, we were ready to take the next step and he had a terrific year in ‘83 and was able to be part of that premiership team.”
Former Hawks teammate Peter Schwab paid tribute on Twitter. “Ken (Judgey) it was a pleasure to play with you and coach with you but the greatest pleasure was our friendship - you will be so missed,” Schwab said.
Parkin and Blues great Stephen Kernahan, who captained the ‘95 premiership team, said Judge made a big impact in his season at Carlton. “Ken was a ferocious competitor ... he was the agent provocateur through 1995,” Parkin told the club website. “We had a fair few ‘yes men’ around the place but Ken was never a yes man. He always had an edge.”
Kernahan said an ill Judge was a popular figure at last year’s 20-year premiership reunion. “The bottom line was that Ken was a really good bloke. His loss is just shattering,” Kernahan said.
Judge died on Friday, which was his 58th birthday.
#RIP
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