TRIBUTES have flooded in for coach and premiership player Ken Judge, who passed away on Friday aged 58.
Judge kicked 158 goals in 72 games for the club between 1983 and 1986 – playing in the club’s 1983 premiership in his first season - before coaching the club for 89 games between 1996 and 1999.
Among the people to pay tribute to Judge were former teammates Robert DiPierdomenico and Terry Wallace, as well as Shane Crawford, who played under Judge.
Hawthorn’s social media channels were also inundated with people paying their respects to Judge and his legacy on Friday.
Former Hawthorn captain Crawford took to Instagram on Friday.
"He took over the Hawthorn Football Club when we had no money, no players and (to) many, no future. He instilled belief, spirit and most of all passion, which still lives on in all the players today,” Crawford said.
Premiership teammate DiPierdomenico described Judge as a talented player and great character.
“When he came over from Western Australia he was one of those talented players who was very skilful, knew how to read the ball very well off the half forward line,” he told SEN 1116.
“He had a wicked sense of humour, but when he delivered the ball you knew exactly where to go and he would hit you on the chest.”
Ken Judge marks against Footscray in 1986.
Fellow 1983 premiership player Terry Wallace described Judge as a dependable and much-valued teammate.
“For me if you were talking about any player that you want kicking the ball for a result in a game it would’ve been Ken Judge,” Wallace told SEN 1116.
“He was very calm and patient with the ball in hand, I think he trusted and knew how good his kicking skills were.
“He was the finishing touches to us. We made a preliminary final in 1982, we were ready to take the next step and he had a terrific year in 83 and was able to be part of that premiership team.”
Dermott Brereton remembered Judge as a wonderful player with an incredible set shot for goal.
“One thing I will say, he was the best set-shot at goal I have ever seen in my entire football career,’’ he told News Limited.
“You have people like Tony Lockett, who has great conversion rate and the like. Ken was a half-forward flanker and there has never been a more precise kick at goal than Ken Judge.
“He was the most technically, beautifully executed, just put them down, count the goal before he even ran into a set shot that I have ever seen.
“An amazing technician with the football in his hand.’’
Brereton, who also played alongside Judge in the 1983 premiership, said he was highly respected.
“He was a good fellow. Very dry sense of humour, really well liked by all his teammates,’’ he said.
“(Former coach) Allan Jeans thought the world of him. For all of us, that’s good enough to start with.
“If Jeansy liked him, he was a good person.’’
