Judd Rules Out Any More Injury Breaks

The Sunday Age

Sunday July 29, 2007

Emma Quayle

CHRIS Judd will enjoy every minute of West Coast's nine-day break leading into next Sunday's western derby. But the captain believes his chronic groin injury is getting better by the week and will not require a late-season break.

Judd, who has battled groin pain since hurting his adductor in early June, said the injury had cost him some acceleration and power but that he was gradually starting to move with more freedom.

The champion onballer has kicked less, handballed more and been tackled more often in the weeks since he was injured, and coach John Worsfold has not ruled out giving Judd a week or more off if required.

"I don't think that will happen, it's been getting better every week," said Judd, who kicked two goals, had 20 possessions and seemed to run more freely in West Coast's 87-point thumping of the Western Bulldogs on Friday night.

"We have a nine-day break now so I'm looking forward to that, but I'm happy with how it's coming along and it does seem to be getting a bit better each game.

"I've been a little bit restricted, but that's not the end of the world. I probably lost a bit of power, but it's on the mend and improving every week. There's no reason to believe it won't keep going that way."

Judd is still not talking about his contract, which expires at the end of the season, but manager Paul Connors yesterday said his "gut feeling" was that Judd would remain with the Eagles.

Friday night's win was the Eagles' second in a row after a lacklustre and injury-plagued mid-season patch, and the second game back for Ben Cousins, who followed last week's 38-possession game with a 29-touch contribution.

Judd said he had paid minimal attention to the extreme interest in Cousins' return from drug rehabilitation, but that the former skipper's comeback had not distracted the players at all.

"It's been an enormous thing for us, and it's not just what he's been able to do on the field. All the boys are relieved to have him back and to have him around the club," he said.

"We've enjoyed having him back and knowing that he's back, not wondering when it might happen."

© 2007 The Sunday Age

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