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Brett Ratten tips improvement for Chris Judd

DUAL Brownlow medallist Chris Judd says he still has not reached his peak and could be a more damaging forward force

DUAL Brownlow medallist Chris Judd says he still has not reached his peak.

Judd agreed with Carlton coach Brett Ratten's comment that the superstar midfielder could be a more damaging forward force.

"Being the great player he is, he's such a great leader and there wasn't a lot to point out, but he still has growth in his game," Ratten said after Judd's Brownlow success.

"We can see what he can do as a forward. He can hit the scoreboard and really hit the opposition."

Judd said the coach had made a "fair call".

"We spoke about getting it forward and hitting the scoreboard a bit more," Judd said.

"Me going forward ... is something we'll be working on."

Judd has kicked 179 goals in his 198-game career and 14 this season, but a lack of goals did not stop him producing one of the biggest shock wins in Brownlow history.

"I think it probably won't be until the Grand Final (is over) and everything is a bit quieter that it will all sink in," Judd said.

"It was just an extremely exciting night and very humbling and something I'll remember forever."

The 27-year-old Blues captain was the biggest outsider to win the Brownlow since Sydney captain Paul Kelly in 1995.

He said he aimed to enjoy the experience more than when he won the 2004 medal playing at West Coast.

"(This year's medal) was a bigger shock," he said. "(I'm) conscious of trying to sort of smell the roses a bit more the second time around.

"I'll be taking up my own advice (to try and enjoy the experience) and trying to share it with some people."

Judd said that he hoped the win would herald a new era of respect for Carlton.

"We've been embarrassed by some off-field incidents in the past and we don't think that's truly reflective of the group we now have," he said.

"I think the club as a whole feels that we want to be seen in a professional light, because that's the club we think we are.

"Like a lot of clubs, we've got the talent there, and hopefully over the next couple of years we can work hard enough and make that success come to fruition."

Meanwhile, Collingwood president Eddie McGuire said Chris Judd had deserved his second Brownlow Medal, despite being caught on camera looking filthy as Magpie favourite Dane Swan's predicted flood of votes failed to materialise.

McGuire said Judd was overdue to win a second medal.

"I reckon there's a couple of years back where he got ripped off, where he should have won a Brownlow Medal, so it all washes itself through," he said on Triple M.

"As we know, Ted Whitten didn't win a Brownlow, Leigh Matthews didn't win a Brownlow, Dermott Brereton didn't win a Brownlow.

"There are plenty of superstars who didn't win a Brownlow, but there are plenty who have.

"It's disappointing for Swanny, no doubt about that.

"At the end of Chris Judd's career you go, 'Well, he won two Brownlows - that's probably about right'."

- with AAP

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Original URL: https://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/brett-ratten-tips-improvement-for-chris-judd/news-story/e0edc9a39edacce5f6aa67d952be3263