Judd faces scrutiny for telling touch - Sports News - Fanatics - the world's biggest events

Judd faces scrutiny for telling touch

By Laine Clark 05/09/2009 10:42:24 PM Comments (0)

Carlton talisman Chris Judd is paid the big bucks to rack up touches but the Blues captain may regret one effort at the Gabba.

Of all the crucial stats Judd collected in Carlton's stunning seven-point AFL elimination final loss to Brisbane on Saturday night, a second quarter effort involving opponent Michael Rischitelli will no doubt come under most scrutiny.

TV cameras picked up an incident early in the second term when Judd appeared to eye gouge his Lions rival as they struggled on the turf.

No one can doubt Judd's class - his impressive resume boasting a Brownlow Medal and a premiership with former club West Coast.

But the incident with Rischitelli will no doubt bring back unsavoury memories of 2007 when the league's golden boy was hauled before the AFL tribunal.

History shows Judd - then the West Coast captain - was cleared of eye gouging Hawthorn's Campbell Brown during their Launceston clash in May 2007.

Judd faced a one-match suspension after he was reported by the AFL match review panel for making contact with Brown's face.

But while the Hawks defender told the tribunal he felt a hand on his face, at no time did he believe Judd's fingers entered his eye.

Sensationally though, two months later, Brown told a TV show that he lied to the tribunal to get Judd off the hook.

Asked on the Fox Sports program On The Couch whether he had "fibbed" to assist Judd, Brown admitted: "Yeah, I did."

When asked to expand, he added: "He obviously wanted to get off, I wanted him to get off, everyone wanted him to get off."

The second quarter incident did not seem to faze Judd who was at his inspirational best on Saturday night.

But he could only do so much for a seriously inexperienced outfit.

Judd was one of only five Blues with finals experience - and only two of them had actually played in September for Carlton.

It showed.

Despite Carlton holding a comfortable 30-point lead late in the clash, the Lions finished all over the top of the visitors thanks to Daniel Bradshaw's five-goal haul to keep their perfect finals record at the Gabba - stretching their unbeaten run in Brisbane to 12 straight games.

The Lions have set up a semi-final date with the Western Bulldogs - boasting ex-Brisbane premiership player Jason Akermanis - at the MCG on Friday night.

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