CARLTON has suffered a huge pre-season blow with Chris Judd injuring his Achilles.

 

The star midfielder will have surgery next week and is likely to be sidelined until round three.

 

He has a form of tendinitis in his Achilles and is expected to be on the sidelines for six weeks.

 

"We're going to surgery now, because we've tried to put in some rehab measures that haven't worked, so this was the next progression from that," Judd told carltonfc.com.au.

 

"We'll hopefully be able to run again after two to three weeks and then we'll be looking to play, again, around round three."

 

It has been revealed Judd has been battling Achilles issues for the past 12 months.

 

"It's been an ongoing thing the last 12 months," Carlton football manager Andrew McKay told reporters at Visy Park. 

 

"Last season he played with (a) stiff and sore Achilles and he was a little bit inconsistent in his form but that was quite often matched by the feeling he was having in his Achilles," he said.

 

McKay insisted the issue was isolated.

 

"We feel the best course of action is to address the issue now, to ensure Chris can have maximum impact on the field when he returns," he said.

 

"Once this is done it's done, it's not as if it's going to lead to other calf injuries. Old age might lead to calf injuries but certainly not this."

 

McKay said Judd had been training well this pre-season but had been pulling up sore over the past week or so.

 

Judd's initial six-year contract with Carlton expired at the end of last season.

 

Before re-signing for 2014, the two-time Brownlow medallist said he was likely to assess his playing future on a year-to-year basis.

 

Carlton coach Mick Malthouse told AFL.com.au this week he hoped Judd, 30, would play on in 2015.

 

"I don't discuss retirement with players … he is committed, he is eager, he wants to be part of a successful side … I hope he doesn't retire," Malthouse said.

 

And Judd was giving nothing away on Friday.

 

"I'm not looking any further past round three at this stage, but I certainly just see this as a bit of a speed hump individually and looking forward to having a big impact for the Carlton footy club this year," he said.

 

Judd has played 259 games since 2002 - 134 for West Coast from 2002-07 and 125 for Carlton.

 

He won the 2004 Brownlow Medal in his third AFL season and captained West Coast to the 2006 premiership.

 

One of the most explosive midfielders in his Eagles days, Judd has had to adapt his game at Carlton after groin problems slowed him down.

 

Playing a more inside game, Judd has remained one of the League's best onballers, winning the 2010 Brownlow Medal and three consecutive Carlton best and fairest awards (2008-10).