The Godfather: Peter Corris on skinfolds

Tags: AFL/ Chris Judd/ Newtown

AFL players, and footballers in general, are not known for their wit and bons mots. An exception is Chris Judd, recently retired Carlton midfielder and former captain of the West Coast Eagles. Judd won many awards in his 279-game career. An all-rounder in every sense, he excelled as a schoolboy at football, cricket and athletics and scored very highly in the examinations at the end of his secondary schooling. He is known to subscribe to the Financial Review to guide and check on his investments and to listen to ABC’s Radio National for information on the world at large.

Judd suffered injuries to his shoulders as a junior and always played with his shoulders heavily strapped. On his first game with Carlton against his former club, one of the Eagles jostled him and said something like, ‘Still got the shoulder problem, Chris?’

Judd replied, apparently good-humouredly, ‘Yes, from carrying you and your mates for a few seasons.’

When a knee injury forced his recent retirement, Judd, asked how he’d like to be remembered, replied, ‘As a country boy with a heart of gold – a bit tricky because I’m not from the country.’

I remember an interview with Judd a few years back when, after making his usual pithy and strictly grammatical comments, he was asked to outline his weekly routine. He ran through the training and preparation and said, ‘And we have a pizza sometimes after the game, which is pretty exciting.’

It’s easy to guess what he meant – players at the top level, as well as being subject to punishing physical discipline, must also follow a strict diet. Their skinfolds are regularly measured and an unsatisfactory number results in extra exercise or even relegation to the Seconds, so the occasional indulgence in fat and carbohydrate would qualify as exciting.

Jean and I eat sensibly, roughly balancing the food groups and not over-eating, but we get a take-away meal delivered most Friday nights. This, while not exactly exciting, represents a welcome break from routine. There could scarcely be a better place than Newtown to facilitate this indulgence, with the variety of food styles available. We alternate between Lebanese and Indian and, yes, a pepperoni gluten-free pizza.

Living close to the King Street strip means the food comes quickly and we always tip the deliverer to encourage continued good service. Not exciting, as I say, and we know that such meals come replete with unsolicited sugars and saturated fats, but it relieves Jean from cooking and me from clearing up and to hell with the expense and the skinfolds – I hate to think how far below the AFL standard we’d fall. But, as all medicos advise, it’s healthy for older people to be a little overweight to provide a reserve of energy when needed. And, as it was with Chris Judd, it’s only occasionally.