Reports of Carlton star Chris Judd possibly not playing on for the 2014 AFL season have been exaggerated, according to the dual Brownlow Medallist himself.
However Judd admitted on Wednesday that the fact he turns 30 next month means he's now one of those players who will face constant scrutiny over his future.
The 257-game veteran suffered a medial-ligament strain to his knee in last week's loss to the Western Bulldogs and despite the club's own website listing the injury as season-ending, Judd is yet to rule out playing again in 2013.
"I'm looking forward to next year and the challenges that await," Judd told reporters at a cancer charity event.
Pressed on his plans for 2015, Judd added: "My guess is as good as yours.
"But I'm still certainly ready to gear up for next season," he said.
"It's natural when players get to 30-plus those sorts of questions get asked.
"It's not surprising but I wasn't aware there was a whole lot of speculation about it."
Judd admits the Blues have a lot of work to do to make themselves a premiership force under first-year coach Mick Malthouse.
"We're a mediocre team," he said.
"It has given us some real clarity on where our club and where our list is at.
"I certainly don't think we've been able to band-aid over anything.
"The coaching staff have a really clear picture of that."
Judd is unsure if the Blues can make the finals in September even by just staying ninth, given the uncertainty over a possible stripping of premiership points for seventh-placed Essendon if the AFL Commission deems the Bombers have brought the league into disrepute over their use of supplements in 2012.
"Before we need to worry about any what-ifs or what's going to happen down the track, playing better footy and competing harder is our main focus and we need to do that this week against the Tigers (on Saturday at the MCG)," Judd said.
Judd says it will be touch and go if he plays again this year, with three rounds remaining in the home-and-away season.
"I'll be in the brace for two weeks and then we'll see after that," he said.
