AFL finals 2023: Chris Judd tips Carlton for flag, calls Charlie Curnow league’s top player

Norm Smith medallist Chris Judd has backed Charlie Curnow to shine in September, declaring Carlton a stayer in finals contention beyond this season.

Dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd says Charlie Curnow is ‘right in the conversation’ as the competition’s best player. Picture: Michael Klein

Dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd thinks Charlie Curnow is currently the best player in the AFL and has backed the star forward to take his former Blues to premiership success.

Judd, who was unveiled on Monday as the presenter of the Norm Smith Medal on grand final day, says his “head says Carlton” will win the flag as well as his heart on the eve of the finals.

It has typically been difficult for key forward pairs to both fire in September, but Judd said Curnow and Harry McKay could have a major influence on Carlton’s finals run.

“I think it’s possible, and it certainly helps when there’s two of them,” he said.

“Harry’s just coming back into the team and has obviously had some injury interruptions, but Charlie is just right in the conversation for the best player in the league at the minute.

“I hope that doesn’t add any extra pressure to him, but he’s the type of player who you could see really being set up for a big September.”

Carlton twin towers Harry McKay and Charlie Curnow could be a key point of difference in September, according to Chris Judd. Picture: Michael Willson / Getty Images

Judd said as an older side out of the finals contenders, Carlton was well placed to follow up its top-eight berth again next season.

The young Melbourne side that forced its way to a preliminary final in 2018 fell away to 17th the following year and then missed the finals again in 2020 before piecing together a successful flag tilt in 2021.

Fremantle, which was the equal second-youngest side this season by average age, fell away significantly to finish 14th after reaching the semi-finals in 2022.

Judd said the Blues’ senior players, including skipper Patrick Cripps, would never take a top-eight spot for granted in future after 10 years without a final.

Judd will present the Norm Smith Medal at this year’s grand final, after he became the fourth player to receive the honour in a losing side against the Sydney in 2005. Picture: Darrin Braybrook

“(Cripps) will really appreciate it – if you first get drafted into a team that’s playing finals football, that’s all you know, so you become accustomed to that just (being) normal,” he said.

“Guys that wait an extended period of time, they’re under no illusions how hard it is to get there, and I actually think those older teams that have success are more likely to have follow-up success because the young guys do fall into habits of thinking it’s easier than it is.

“You find even though young teams have age on their side, they generally fall off a cliff quicker than the older ones who fully appreciate just how hard it is to get there and just how easily it can be taken away.”

One of only four players to be awarded the Norm Smith Medal in a losing team when the Eagles lost the 2005 decider to Sydney, Judd said it had been little consolation at the time.

“I’d describe it as sub-optimal, yeah,” he said with a grin.

Former Sydney champion Josh Kennedy will present the premiership cup on grand final day, while dual Geelong premiership coach Mark Thompson will present the Jock McHale Medal to the winning coach.

Originally published as AFL finals 2023: Chris Judd tips Carlton for flag, calls Charlie Curnow league’s top player