Judd missed the first three rounds as he served out a suspension arising from the Blues’ elimination final defeat to the Brisbane Lions last year, but polled maximum votes in his first five games of the 2010 season to lead all comers eight rounds in.
He won three votes on eight occasions to win his second Brownlow with 30 votes from 2009 winner Gary Ablett (26 votes) and hot favourite Dane Swan on 24.
The Blues’ skipper revealed his suspension had been the motivating force behind the stellar run of performances that set up the win.
“I was pretty disappointed with missing the first three games and really focused on having an impact when I got back out there,” Judd said.
“In a funny way I think actually watching footy from the box in those games actually gave me a bit of an insight into footy that you don’t always get. I probably learned a couple of things watching those games from the box that maybe held me in good stead.
“It’s a tremendous honour. It’s humbling and just something that I’m really going to enjoy and savour.”
Judd polled three votes in round 20 to open up an unassailable six-vote lead over Swan, whose hopes were dashed when he did not poll a vote in the Pies’ tight win over the Crows in round 21.
Aaron Sandilands had the room abuzz with three lots of three votes in the first five rounds to lead Jonathan Brown by four votes.
Ablett and Swan were equal third eight rounds in with nine votes apiece. Both could count themselves a little unlucky not to poll more votes from some excellent early games.
Judd’s hot streak cooled somewhat as he polled two votes between rounds 9- 11, with Ablett edging closer with three votes for a 32-possession, two-goal effort against Melbourne in round 10, taking him to 12 votes - just behind second-placed Sandilands on 13.
Judd polled maximum votes for the sixth time in round 14 for his 29-disposal display in the win over the Brisbane Lions to hold an imposing eight-vote lead over Swan, Sandilands and Ablett.
The Blues skipper polled just one more vote to round 18 to lead Swan by two votes and Ablett four entering the final four rounds of competition.
Round 19 proved pivotal as neither Ablett nor Swan polled in the Pies’ win over the Cats while Judd extended his lead to five with a three-vote effort against the Bombers.
Judd also polled 30 votes when he won the Brownlow back in 2004 as a West Coast Eagle. Six years and a move across the country later, he was asked if there were similarities between the two victories.
“It’s probably hard to compare,” he said.
“They were both unexpected for different reasons. The first one I think I had just turned 21 and at that age you’re still just wondering if you’re a bona fide AFL player, so that was a bit of a spin-out.
“Then this year I was pretty happy with my year, but I didn’t think it was [worthy] of Brownlow contention so it was a real spin-out.
“It’s not something that you can plan or really expect but it’s certainly a huge honour and very exciting.”
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