CHRIS Judd has been ruled out of Carlton's clash with the Brisbane Lions on Saturday night, with Blues considering whether the two-time Brownlow medallist should play just the second state-league game of his career when he returns from a hamstring injury.
Carlton football manager Andrew McKay told the club's website on Wednesday that Judd was expected to return in round 12 but said the Blues had not decided whether that would be against Geelong or in the VFL.
If Judd plays in the VFL, it will be his first state-league game since he played in the WAFL in round one of his debut season with West Coast in 2002.
"Chris won't be playing this week but his recovery is going really well," McKay said.
"He'll be training fully this week, training fully next week, with a view to playing that week.
"We're still umming and ahhing about [whether Judd returns via the VFL].
"He's the type of quality player that could probably come back straight into the senior team but that needs a further discussion."
Judd has played just six minutes of game time this season after undergoing Achilles tendon surgery in February and then badly straining a hamstring soon after being substituted into the round five clash against the Western Bulldogs.
Meanwhile, McKay said Matthew Kreuzer's recovery from foot surgery was progressing "OK".
"He's on crutches for another two weeks. It's just a really slow process for poor old Matthew," McKay said.
"But certainly (he is) still looking to play some decent footy at the back end of the season."
McKay said Ed Curnow (broken leg) was a chance to return in round 12 but Patrick Cripps (broken leg) was still on crutches and at least two or three weeks away from playing.
The Blues footy chief also said midfielder Tom Bell had suffered a setback after the finger he broke in round five became infected last week.
McKay said Bell had been prescribed antibiotics and would not play this weekend, with the Blues set to know more about his likely return date after he visited his surgeon tomorrow.
In better news for Blues fans, McKay said Dylan Buckley would be available for selection after being substituted out of last Sunday's win over Adelaide with "a stinger" on the hip.
