NEW Carlton captain Chris Judd says he is more than ready to lead the Blues into the 2008 season, after captaining West Coast in difficult circumstances during 2006-07. 

Judd said he was a lot better prepared to lead an AFL club this time around, after the captaincy was thrust upon him in Perth when Ben Cousins was stripped of the role at West Coast – due to off-field indiscretions – before the start of the 2006 season.

"Having a couple of years in the role at West Coast held me in good stead and I learned a lot of lessons in that time. I think that was a good experience for me," Judd said.

"Essentially, the lessons I learned at West Coast will apply pretty well to the Carlton footy club."

Judd was informed of the club's decision on Monday night after it was ratified by the Carlton board and, although the 24-year-old is entering his first season with Carlton, he was adamant he didn't have to be cajoled into the role.

"I wouldn't say I had to be talked into it … I discussed with 'Ratts' [Brett Ratten] the role which I'd play in that [leadership] group and at that stage the issue of captaincy hadn't been broached," Judd said.

"It's a huge privilege and if the players and match committee felt I was the best man for the job, I wasn't going to walk away from that – I thought that would be a huge honour.

"The opportunity is there now and I'd be silly to walk away from it."

Nick Stevens, who was pipped by Judd for the role, conceded he was disappointed to miss out on the position, despite still being proud to be named vice-captain.

"I would've loved to have captained the club, but on the other hand it's a great honour to be vice-captain as well and I guess Juddy, there is no greater man to lose it to," 28-year-old Stevens said.

"He's probably the best player in the comp, so at least I can look back and say I did lose it to him."

Carlton coach Brett Ratten said the decision to appoint a new skipper was "very difficult".

"Nick's pre-season and the way he's gone about things has been outstanding and it's been a tough one for the match committee," Ratten said.

"Everyone had a vote and it was pretty close, but at the end of the day, you reflect on what Chris has done as a captain already and that probably put him just in front of Nick.

"It was line ball and I feel sorry for Nick because he was that close, and again last year as well, but when you've had a player that's done what they've done in a short time like Chris has done – he got his nose in front."

Ratten said the latest trend of appointing co-captains, such as at St Kilda and Sydney, never entered the equation for the Blues.

"[I wanted to stick to] the traditional way and we're one of the oldest clubs in the AFL and I don't know whether 'Sticks' [board member and ex-skipper Stephen Kernahan] would've liked a co-captain, so we went away from that," Ratten said.

Carlton vice-president Kernahan – the longest serving captain in AFL history – said both Judd and Stevens were "outstanding candidates" and the club was rapt to have them on board.

 "I think it's going to be a long and happy union for these two at our club," Kernahan said.