Former Hawthorn, West Coast Coach Ken Judge Has Passed Away At Age 58

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Published

January 15, 2016

It’s the Australian Football community’s turn to shoulder the burden of mourning on this awful, awful week, following news that former Hawthorn and West Coast coach Ken Judge has passed away earlier today. He was 58.

Judge was a renowned figure in Western Australian football, having begun his playing career in 1975 with the East Fremantle Football club in the WAFL.

After 120 games with the Sharks, Judge crossed the Nullarbor in 1983 to the dominant VFL, joining Hawthorn with immediate success. Judge won the Best First Year Player award from the club, and was a key cog in the Hawks rampaging 1983 VFL Premiership victory.

After 72 games with the Hawks, he moved up to the fledgling Brisbane Bears in 1987, where his active playing career wrapped up in 1988.

After a successful stint overseeing Carlton‘s all-conquering 1995 AFL Premiership victory as an assistant, Judge then stepped up to a head coaching role with his old club Hawthorn in 1996. Though the struggling Hawks continued stumbling under Judge’s watch, and he eventually voluntarily resigned in 1999, with a year left on his contract.

Judge then returned to Western Australia to take charge of the West Coast Eagles for two seasons in 2000 and 2001, but again, poor on-field results plagued the side, and Judge was removed in 2001 and replaced by club favourite son John Worsfold.

Following his exit from coaching, Judge took up a successful career as a radio commentator with the ABC.

Judge’s death today came on his 58th birthday, and followed a long struggle with cancer.

The football community has been pouring out emotion on social media since news of Judge’s demise broke.

The club sends its condolences to family and friends of premiership Hawk and former coach Ken Judge, who has passed away today.

— Hawthorn FC (@HawthornFC) January 15, 2016

Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of former senior coach, Ken Judge. pic.twitter.com/zamlyYSApg

— West Coast Eagles (@WestCoastEagles) January 15, 2016

Vale Ken Judge.

David Parkin & Stephen Kernahan remember our ’95 premiership assistant: https://t.co/u9vIi5ROTj pic.twitter.com/Xe2VTWTJNI

— Carlton FC (@CarltonFC) January 15, 2016

Everyone at @EFFC is deeply saddened by the passing of Ken Judge, and send our sympathies to Annette and the family. https://t.co/Mt6MP5OvD6

— East Fremantle FC (@EFFC) January 15, 2016

The Club would like to pass on its sincere condolences to the family and friends of Ken Judge.

— Brisbane Lions (@brisbanelions) January 15, 2016

RIP ken judge a real mate mentor and ripping bloke.I will miss you thanks for believing in me. Thinking of Annette & fam

— David Wirrpanda (@wirra44) January 15, 2016

Saddened by the passing of Ken Judge, always full of advice for me. Thoughts with Annette and the boys. RIP Judgey

— Tom Rockliff (@rockwiz38) January 15, 2016

Cancer rears its ugly head yet again.
Vale Ken Judge.
A great @HawthornFC man.
Hard but always fair.
A terrific bloke and brilliant company

— Stephen Quartermain (@Quartermain10) January 15, 2016

Very sad to hear of the passing of Ken Judge. A great footballer and an even better bloke #RIP

— lehmo (@lehmo23) January 15, 2016

Very, very sad to hear of the passing of Ken Judge. Never backward, sometimes volatile, and always demanding you to be better. Judgey was great company at the driptray! Ironically my favourite memory with him was the night we had at his place the night he got sacked. Beers, karaoke and sleeping on his living room floor! ?? A passionate Hawthorn man who will be sorely missed in Grand Final week at the past players catch up. ?? Much love and condolences to Annette and the boys. Rest in Peace mate. Harf

A photo posted by Daniel Harford (@harfserious) on Jan 14, 2016 at 6:45pm PST

Very sad news with the passing of my old coach Ken Judge. He took over the @hawthornfc when we had no money ,no players and 2 many no future. He installed belief, spirit and most of all passion which lives on in all the players today! My thoughts are with his beautiful family #rip #thanksforbelieving

A photo posted by ShaneBCrawford (@shanebcrawford) on Jan 14, 2016 at 7:29pm PST

Rest easy, Judgey.

Photo: Sean Garnsworthy/Getty Images.

Source: Wide World of Sports.

Tags:

AFL, Hawthorn, West Coast

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