FORMER Carlton captain and 2010 Brownlow Medallist Chris Judd has lauded the sheer work ethic of the Club’s latest Brownlow Medallist Patrick Cripps, and in doing so flagged the fervent belief that the collective rewards will soon follow.

Judd, who aside from Cripps is the Club’s only Brownlow Medal winner to have also captained the team, believed that his former teammate had truly led from the front at a club on the rise.

Of Cripps’ win in the count, Judd said simply: “It was magic. It was so well-deserved”.

“You forget how hard the road’s been for him, but he’s been so dedicated and so loyal to earn the individual rewards . . . and hopefully the team rewards now come his way,” he said.

“He [Cripps] plays the game so hard. Whichever way you slice and dice it, he’s a physical battering ram and it’s been hard for him to get through a season uninjured let alone play the way he has. But it feels different now - the cavalry’s there with [Sam] Walsh and a couple of other bigger bodies.”

Judd had only just returned to Melbourne with his family when he tuned into the Seven Network’s dramatic broadcast of the count on Sunday night.

Of the count Judd said: “I was excited like everyone at Carlton. We’d been away and we were glued to the screen. I can’t remember a count where it was up for grabs going into the last round”.

“I thought ‘Crippa’ was in trouble when he didn’t get the three votes in Round 1, but then the three came out of left field late against Adelaide and that was a big moment,” he said.

Harking back to 2014 when their careers first overlapped at Carlton, Judd recalled being taken by the sheer physical size of Cripps, “which for a mid is quite striking”.

As he said of Cripps: “he was a massive, key-position type”.

“Back then he was such a great kid who’s turned out into an equally great leader. First impressions were of someone with intelligence, humility and a hunger to do better – and while he had plenty of work to do at the start, he was always willing to do it.”

Though he hasn’t yet managed to congratulate Cripps in person, Judd has twice forwarded texts – one prior to and one after Cripps joined Carlton’s coveted Brownlow club.

“I know what it’s like when your phone is inundated with messages. It’s headachy,” Judd said.

“But I sent him a text beforehand to wish him good luck and tell him what a brilliant year he’d had regardless . . . and I sent him another afterwards to tell him to maintain perspective.”

Judd’s respect for Cripps is more than matched in the reverse, as Cripps revealed on Brownlow night.

"When I was a kid, I was a massive Eagles man and I grew up idolising ‘Juddy’ and Benny Cousins . . . (and) I got a message from both of them tonight”.

“It’s a weird feeling. I still feel like I’m a 10-year-old kid just loving footy, and now all of a sudden, I’m in their shoes in a way. I’ve got young Carlton supporters looking up to me, and that’s pretty special.

"’Juddy’ really helped me out early in my career. Tonight, he said just to enjoy it, I had a great year and whatever happens happens. I really respect that. He gave me a lot of advice early in my career and always told me to play to my strengths, don’t try and be someone you’re not and do the basics well.

“He’s arguably one of the best players in our generation, and to learn off him in my first few years and still get advice off him is still pretty special."