Judd up and running
Chris Judd has started running and will resume full training soon as he recovers from shoulder surgery
CARLTON captain Chris Judd is recovering well from shoulder surgery and looks on track to re-join full training after Christmas.
The dual Brownlow medallist had a minor operation a fortnight ago after developing soreness.
He appeared at Blues training on Friday without any strapping on the shoulder, running a series of 400-metre sprints.
Teammate Heath Scotland said the setback would have very little effect on the 28-year-old's preparation for next season.
"I was speaking to him today, and I'm not a surgeon, but from what I gather they pretty much got the best outcome they could've, and he's on track to be back into training post-Christmas," Scotland said.
"And probably resting his body from the contact stuff won't be a bad thing, because he cops a battering in-season."
Scotland said the nature of the injury meant Judd would have no problem maintaining his fitness.
"It's important to be touching the footballs, but a player of his class isn't going to drop off too much in the skill department," Scotland said.
"You've got to get the volume in your legs and when you're off your legs for a while, it's hard to get that volume in.
"You can cross-train all you like, but you still need to be out there running, and he's able to do that now.
"He's only missed two weeks on his legs, and he keeps himself in great condition."
Midfielder Marc Murphy and big man Matthew Kreuzer also impressed onlookers during the two-hour session.
Murphy is yet to join in full training after a post-season knee scrape, but ran 200 metre sprints for the entire time his teammates trained and looked extremely fit.
Kreuzer's body shape has undergone a transformation, having dropped several kilograms from his frame over the course of the pre-season.
"He (Kreuzer) has really got himself in good nick," Scotland said.
"He's one of the blokes that's come back in better shape.
"Obviously coming back from the knee last season was tough on him, so he's leaned up and he's fit and strong."
In further good news for the Blues , star half-back Bryce Gibbs completed a full session, including contact drills, and appears to be almost over the shoulder injury he suffered in the Blues' elimination final win over Essendon.
Scotland said the list as a whole was in good shape and desperate to improve on its fifth-pace finish in 2011.
"Last year was a positive year for us, and our aim this year is to finish top four to give ourselves the best chance in the finals," he said.
"We're in a bit better shape than we have been in previous years, so hopefully that'll correlate into the season."