Ken Judge, Australian football player and coach, Died at 58

  Sports

Ken Judge was born on January 15, 1958, and died on January 15, 2016.

He was an Australian rules footballer and coach.

Ken was recruited from East Fremantle Football Club to Hawthorn and made an immediate impact in his VFL debut in 1983, being part of a premiership side in his first season and winning the Hawks’ Best First Year Player award.

He has also played in the Grand Final sides of 1984 and 1985 but after struggling for selection with the Hawks in 1986, he moved to the Brisbane Bears, where he played without making much impact in 1987 and 1988.

Ken Judge was the coach for Hawthorn from 1996–1999, finishing 8th, hence reaching the finals in his first year.

Nevertheless, in the over the following years, Hawthorn struggled and finished 15th and 13th before just missing out of the finals in 1999, finishing 9th.

Ken Judge then resigned as Hawthorn coach to return to Western Australia as coach of the West Coast Eagles for the 2000 and 2001 AFL seasons.

Ken was unsuccessful during his time there, with West Coast finished 13th and 14th before he was sacked and replaced by John Worsfold.

Ken had previously been diagnosed with the blood condition in mid-2010 and had undergone several bouts of chemotherapy treatment.

Ken Judge passed away at 58 yrs old, in Australia.