IT WAS just a practice match and Chris Judd’s return was moderate by his standards [20 possessions and one goal] but the superstar found it hard to hide his joy after the Blues NAB challenge win over the Western Bulldogs on Friday.

“It was good, it was still a thrill to pull the Carlton guernsey on for the first time and for the boys to have a win,” Judd said.

The Brownlow Medallist admitted to being anxious before the start of the match but you wouldn’t have known it from his sizzling start. He racked up four touches inside the opening 70 seconds sending the MC Labour Park crowd of just over 10,000 wild.

“They were all sitting in the old stand and they pretty loud there especially in the last quarter – it was a good atmosphere,” Judd said.

Most importantly Judd got through the game unscathed in his first real match following major groin surgery.

“I’ll probably know more tomorrow but I am happy with how I pulled up and am looking forward to round one.

“Anytime you have your first hit-out for the year there is uncertainty and especially coming back from injury so it’s good to get it out the way.”

Coach Brett Ratten said the Judd return had gone so well that the club decided to give him a bit more game time in the final term.

“At three-quarter time we were going to cotton-wool him but our high performance manager Justin Cordy said he is right to go for another six minutes, he would prefer to get another six minutes into his legs so we played him for about five and half, so it went well,” Ratten said.

“I think it is always good to get back after a layoff and touch the ball. It went to plan for Chris.”

Ratten said he expected Judd to play 80 to 85 minutes in round one.

Ratten also said the club was considering giving fellow midfielder Nick Stevens a run in the VFL next weekend after a neck injury kept him out of tonight’s match.

Judd said the performance of the younger members of the squad was the most pleasing part of the game.

Ratten confirmed that defender Andrew Walker had re-injured his shoulder but said the club had no news on his prognosis at this stage.

“It is his shoulder the same one he had his op on so we don’t know if it is just a knock or he has done some serious damage, he’ll get scans tomorrow.”