WE DIDN’T get the result we were after on the weekend, but I’m so happy that footy’s back.

It’s great to get back among it after a really long summer on the track. We started way back in mid-October, but it’s also been a huge build-up for the club with Ratts getting the job full-time and Juddy coming over.

A lot has changed in the few short months since Ratts has taken over. He has his own coaching style, having made the development of the young list his priority. This has been reflected with the introduction of several new programs designed to fast-track the growth of the young players mentally and physically with greater emphasis on strength and weights, running and fitness . . . we even do some pilates and yoga now!

Ratts has been big on the cross-training side of things and he hands off to Justin Cordy who makes sure our bodies are in good nick. He’s really big on development and he’s got the first, second and third year players in a development group, so I’ve snuck into that which is good.

It covers all the basics of the game which I’ve found really helpful. Ratts has put a big emphasis on development, so I think the guys in their first years are starting in a good culture where they’ll get the basics right and progress from there.

I’ve still only played two seasons and 36 games now and I’m hardly a veteran of the game, so it’s been really great for me to be involved in the development group because you always need to practice your skills so you don’t drop off.

Hopefully you’ll be able to see the results throughout the year from all of the younger guys.

Juddy’s arrival was obviously massive for the club. When I first walked in to do some weights, I didn’t know whether he would be there because he had just signed, but then Eddie Betts came running up to me and said, “Chris Judd’s in there doing weights!” It was a bit of a thrill for all the guys.

I think it was good for him to get the first game out of the way as well, so all the hype surrounding him can drop off a little bit and he can just concentrate on getting himself right and playing some good footy for the club.

I’m happy to say I gave him his first touch at Carlton. I shoveled one out to him at the first bounce, but I’m sure that won’t be what people remember about his first game in navy blue.

It was like someone snagged a goal when he got his first touch and again when he got his second; it was pretty bizarre. There’s definitely been a lot of expectation on him, but he’s that good a player that I don’t think it will really bother him.

He’s been really good around the club, he gets around and talks to everyone, and he’s really bright and switched on.

He’s not the loudest bloke going around, but he’s loud enough; he’s a leader who leads by example. It’s already been a bit of an eye-opener with regards to how he prepares himself; he’s got the lowest skinfolds at the club and he’s always in the gym doing extras. He does everything right and that’s a good example not just for the young guys, but everyone here.

Last year when I played through the middle most of the time I copped the No.1 midfield tag and a bit was written about how Juddy coming to the club would affect me.

Last week I played more as a small forward pushing up the ground, so it was a bit hard to compare, but now Juddy’s obviously going to get the best tag and then Nick Stevens will draw attention as well.

I can’t just go out there and expect to play by myself though; there’s always going to be an opponent. I’m not really looking at it like ‘how good’s this going to be?’ I’m still going to work hard and try and draw some of the tagging attention away from those guys along with Andrew Carrazzo, Kade Simpson and Bryce Gibbs because that’s how we’ll develop into a strong midfield unit.

I used to follow North Melbourne when I was younger and I always remember Carlton as a big club and it’s starting to look like that again off the field. Now it’s up to us to get it sorted out on the field so we can recapture those times when Carlton was one of the most successful clubs around.

You can definitely see the early signs with membership up and the general feeling of confidence around the place; I’m looking forward to really big things for the club.

It’s great to get back into it and not having a win was a bit of a disappointment, but we’ve got that first game under our belts now and hopefully we can put in a really good performance against the Saints and build from there.