Dual Brownlow medallist Chris Judd has told Carlton he wants to play on next year, quashing speculation the 29-year-old might retire at the end of the season.
Judd stepped down from the Carlton captaincy after five years ahead of this season and is due to come of contract at the end of this year.
Earlier this year he signalled he wanted to delay contract talks with the Blues until the middle of the season, but West Coast's 2006 premiership captain told Perth radio station 6PR on Tuesday night he wanted to play on.
"I've already expressed I will be keen to play on again next year and the club has said they're keen to have me," Judd said.
"We haven't penned a deal yet, but I'm sure that will get done at some stage during the season."
Judd signed a multi-million dollar six-year deal with Carlton at the end of 2007 after crossing from West Coast following 134 games from 2002-07 that netted him two best and fairest awards, the 2004 Brownlow Medal and the 2005 Norm Smith Medal.
Judd said he would approach his football on a year-to-year basis from now on, but knowing the end of his career was approaching had helped rekindle his love of the game.
"Once you start to approach 30 … you realise it is going to end," Judd said.
"So you sort of get a bit more of an extra kick in a sense, because you have this realisation that it actually isn't going to last forever.
"I'm probably appreciating footy a bit more than I have for a while."
Judd said he would consider staying in football as a coach once his playing days draw to a close.
"At the moment, I will look to explore other opportunities outside of footy, but I acknowledge that I do really love the game," he said.
"I just couldn't tell you how much I'm going to miss it once I stop playing.
"Hopefully, I have got a couple of years before I have to go down that path, we'll just wait and see."