Josh Kennedy reveals struggle to leave Carlton and happiness found in Perth after Chris Judd trade
IT was jokingly dubbed the worst trade ever but Josh Kennedy’s goalkicking exploits since being traded from Carlton to West Coast for Chris Judd continues to spark debate over who won the deal.
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IT was a fashion statement that has gone horribly out of style.
In 2008, Josh Kennedy wandered around the streets of Hong Kong with three words plastered on his back: “WORST TRADE EVER”.
The T-shirt gag, organised by chief footy trip leader Sam Butler, came after Kennedy’s first season at West Coast, which produced seven goals from seven games.
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At that stage Kennedy’s AFL career read 18 goals from 22 matches and his Eagles teammates were wondering what the hell the club had gone and done in the Chris Judd deal.
“We got told we were getting this amazing athlete and then this overweight bloke from the bush rolls in,” a member of that footy trip recalled this week.
“We thought it was a joke.”
A decade on and Kennedy holds the key to West Coast’s premiership chances and enters his second Grand Final as the club’s greatest goalkicker.
“Back then I was 19 and just a young kid,” Kennedy told the Herald Sun this week.
“But I haven’t looked back, it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made.
“To come back and be closer to family, to see my little sisters grow up and to be closer to mum and to meet my wife, and now we have two beautiful girls.
“I don’t regret any decision I made back then.”
But that’s not to say Kennedy wanted to leave Carlton. He had formed close mates and was adored by club legend Stephen Kernahan.
In fact, those closest to negotiations from both camps this week recalled just how emotional Kennedy was at the thought of leaving the Blues.
There was an initial teary plea to stay at Carlton and then a tough conversation with West Coast powerbrokers at the club’s Subiaco Oval headquarters in the build-up to the trade deadline.
“I was contracted, I had two years left (at Carlton), so it was a yes or no from me – and it was a hard decision,” Kennedy said.
“I didn’t really like change. I wanted to be a one-club player, I didn’t really want to change clubs.
“But you sit down and do the pros and cons and, like I said, all my friends and family were back in WA.
“My mates were all down in Perth studying or working, so I was a bit closer to the nest I grew up in.”
But the deal was no cinch to clinch. In 2007 Richmond finished last and Carlton finished second last and Judd only wanted to go to the Blues.
Still, the Tigers hovered. That year the Blues held picks No.1, 3 and 20 and the Tigers held picks No.2, 18 and 19 … plus the first pick in the pre-season draft.
Carlton declared its No.1 selection off the table. That year Cain Ackland carried Carlton’s ruck duties and, with no standout state-league ruckmen to draft, the Blues were hellbent on securing Matthew Kreuzer with the No.1 pick.
If the Blues kept both of their prized selections they probably would’ve paired Kreuzer with Rhys Palmer or possibly Cale Morton.
The Blues were happy to deal picks No.3 and 20 to West Coast, while the Tigers would’ve offloaded No.2 and 18 for Judd.
But Judd wanted to go to the Blues and there was only one Blue the Eagles were interested in – Kennedy.
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The sharpshooter was from Northampton, about five hours north of Perth, and West Coast had ranked him No.3 in the 2005 draft, the year Carlton took him at No.4 before Collingwood took captain Scott Pendlebury at No.5.
Kernahan had worked closely with Kennedy and knew he was a star of the future.
“He’d done his apprenticeship with us. He was in his fourth year. He was ready,” Kernahan has previously said.
“He loved being at Carlton. It was horrific to lose a kid like that – but you’d probably only do it for one bloke (Judd).”
At the time the Tigers were also in talks with West Coast over Eagles forward Mitch Morton.
With the Judd deal stumbling, it was floated that the Tigers could trade picks No.2 and 18 to West Coast for Morton and a sneaky side agreement that the Eagles wouldn’t send Judd to Carlton.
That would’ve allowed Richmond to snare Judd in the pre-season draft.
While the AFL integrity cops would’ve likely intervened on such a shady deal, there was precedence.
Four years earlier wooden-spooner Western Bulldogs traded pick No.6 to Hawthorn for Lochlan Veale amid an agreement the Hawks wouldn’t send Jade Rawlings to North Melbourne, and the Dogs pounced in the pre-season draft.
But, some wondered, could the Blues have just taken Judd with the No.1 pick in the national draft anyway?
That would’ve likely seen the Blues draft Judd (No.1) and Trent Cotchin (No.3) as well as keeping Kennedy.
Eventually, talks escalated to higher powers and the deal was done … and Tiger fans will be thankful they retained picks No.2 and 18 - selections used on Cotchin and Alex Rance.
The Eagles had long loved Chris Masten, dating back to his standout under-16 carnival, and snared him at pick No.3.
At No.20 they opted for lean 17-year-old Tony Notte. The forward had flair but struggled to add muscle and went on to carve out an impressive WAFL career, taking mark of the year this year.
With Kennedy gone the Blues demanded a pick back and ended up with No.46. That year they were drawn to Dennis Armfield’s raw pace and had him earmarked as a rookie pick.
But after coach Brett Ratten viewed Armfield’s highlights tape he said don’t chance it – take Dennis at No.46.
The Blues did, and both Armfield and Judd punched out 145 games for the Blues.
So, who won the blockbuster deal?
“Lineball,” was still the call from those closest to dealings, adamant both clubs profited.
The commercial gains Judd generated were massive for the Blues. Memberships soared at a time the club’s grandstands were falling down.
But Kennedy and Masten are still kicking. And if they climb the premiership dais that might just clinch it.
Butler might need to hit up his merchandise supplier. “BEST TRADE EVER”.
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