The Carlton Football Club is mourning the untimely death of former Hawthorn Premiership player Ken Judge, the club’s former Assistant and Reserve Grade Coach who so ably supported Senior Coach David Parkin in the Blues' last Premiership season of 1995.

Judge died on his 58th birthday, having waged a long and brave battle with myeloma. His passing this morning is being felt by all connected with the club, amongst them Parkin and Carlton’s Premiership captain of that year, Stephen Kernahan.

Parkin paid Judge a final visit last Friday. “I was with Ken for most of the day and he was in remarkably good spirits,” Parkin said. “I later sent him a book, which I know he never got to see, called 'Time and Space' by James Coventry. The book deals with where the game is going, which we often debated amongst ourselves."

Reflecting on Judge’s time at Carlton, Parkin remembered that his old colleague brought a hard edge to Princes Park.

“In terms of the Carlton impact, Ken was a ferocious competitor,” Parkin said. “He was the agent provocateur through 1995. We had a fair few 'yes men' around the place but Ken was never a yes man. He always had an edge. He was a terrific competitor in what he did and his expectation of others. He was a really powerful influence in keeping us directed and on-song, and we couldn't have made a better choice in terms of the impact.

“At the same time he was able to garner friendships. He and Annette were just terrific people and they fitted in so well."

Kernahan, who with Parkin, Judge, Colin Kinnear and Adrian Gallagher formed Carlton’s 1995 Match Committee, paid tribute to Judge, describing his former mentor as “a man who was very highly regarded by everyone - staff, players and coaches across the board”.

“Ken was a magnificent back-up to David Parkin and he had a great rapport with both the older and younger players,” Kernahan said.

“As a coach he was as hard as nails. He got the best out of people.”

Kernahan said that with Judge’s return to his native Perth, catch-ups were all-too-fleeting in recent years - which is why he was so warmly welcomed back at the 20th anniversary reunion of the ’95 Grand Final triumph at Crown last June.

Ken was in good spirits that night even though he was very ill,” Kernahan said.

"He was front and centre in a photograph taken with all the players and staff - we all got around him.

“The bottom line was that Ken was a really good bloke. His loss is just shattering.”

The Carlton Football Club extends its deepest sympathies to Ken’s wife Annette and their sons Jason, Ben and Beau on their profound loss.