The tarnishing of brand Judd?

It’s easy, and strangly comforting, to pronounce the demise of brand Judd following the one-time golden boy’s exploration of Michael Rischitelli’s face last weekend. History, though, would suggest the brand will survive.

In 1985, Leigh Matthews struck Geelong’s Neville Bruns in an off-the-ball incident. Matthews was deregistered for four weeks, charged by Victoria Police and fined $1100. At pretty much any level, Matthews’ transgression surpasses Judd’s by a considerable distance.

Matthews went on to a successful and decorated career as a coach, winning four Premierships in that role, and, between coaching stints and since retirement, respected media columnist and colour commentator.

While Judd will forever be associated with the Rischitelli incident, his brand has not been trashed.

Notwithstanding Matthews rehabilitation, Judd would do well to nevertheless guard himself well for the remainder of his career. He need only look to the one-time King of Arden Street to see what can happen when the well of public sympathy dries up, albeit in that case for off-field indiscretions.