IT WAS in 2017 when Zac Fisher - four days shy of his 19th birthday - kicked what proved to be the winning point in Carlton’s clash with Greater Western Sydney.

That was Fisher’s seventh game that night. But since then, ahead of game No.100 tonight, he has been the favourite player of a young man named Judd.

And yes, he's named after the newly minted Carlton Hall of Famer. But more on that tidbit later.

Residing in Queensland, Judd and mum Lisa headed to Carlton’s open training session on the Sunshine Coast in February: naturally, he got the all clear from Mum to take the day off school to mark the occasion. 

While the hundreds of Bluebaggers in attendance were looking for signatures from every single player in Navy Blue, Judd was looking for one in particular.

The end result? A conversation with his favourite player, as well as signed boots from the man himself.

“They’re still in my room,” Judd said on the boots. “He cuddles with them every night!” was the response from Lisa.

“You know when you’re little and you get something really good, so they live on your bed and think ‘this is the best day ever’? That was it.

“The fact all the players were unbelievable, and the way the staff organised the players to come out with textas and sign everything, it blew us away. We felt the love!”

When Fisher came over, Judd was - initially - unable to speak upon meeting his favourite player. We’ve all been there.

However, upon some motivation from Mum, he began to let tonight’s milestone man know all about his fandom.

“I was definitely lost for words and didn’t really talk to him. But then, I started telling him all of his stats.

“He told me that I know more than his grandma.”

Judd’s favourite stat on his favourite player?

“Although he’s kicked four goals in a game, he’s never kicked three goals. That’s one — he’s kicked two multiple times, and four once, but never three.

“I’d love for him to kick three tonight — I hope so!

“I know a lot of stats, I know lots of them for Carlton — but mainly for ‘Fish’.”

His message to Fisher for tonight was one of congratulations, and wanted to let him know that he’ll be wearing his Navy Blue No.25 guernsey when watching from home.

This was despite both Mum and son admitting that it doesn’t quite fit anymore.

“He got it in 2017! It all started when there was a Halloween festival at school where you got to dress up as someone, and Judd dressed up as Alex Jesaulenko,” she said.

“Obviously he carried on with the No.25 because it just felt right!”

Lisa said that Judd loves his stats, and would love to work at Carlton in the future.

It’s no surprise for someone who was destined to be a Navy Blue since day one.

“Judd was born on 27 March 2009, and Carlton played Richmond the night before,” Lisa said.

“We hadn’t decided on a name, and I said ‘if Carlton wins, this child will be named Judd!’. We’ve always been Carlton fans”