West Coast midfield star Daniel Kerr has warned any Melbourne clubs hoping to woo Chris Judd across the Nullarbor they face an almost impossible task getting him away from Perth.

Rumours have been swirling in Melbourne and Perth of megabuck offers awaiting the Eagles skipper when his contract expires at season's end, with Carlton reportedly ready to break the bank to snare the Brownlow medallist.

With Blues president Dick Pratt a known admirer, Judd's insistence he will not discuss his contract until this season is over has left the 23 year-old's future open to more speculation.

But according Kerr, a close friend of Judd on and off the field, no amount of money was likely to tempt the superstar east.

"Unbuyable," Kerr told Southern Cross radio in Perth.

"And it is bit of dead subject, because I think he is going to stay, I think the club will keep him and I think Juddy is happy.

"Chris has come out himself and said he does not want to speak about it until the end of the year.

"And I am one of his very good friends, so I shouldn't really be talking about it until the end of year."

With Carlton in a hugely strong bargaining position, given Pratt's financial power and three draft picks within the top 20, reported links with Judd - and a possible trade involving Brendan Fevola - have been mooted.

But Kerr said he did not believe a draft pick, no matter how high, could come close to the value of a fit Judd to the team.

"Pick three is still a gamble, there are a lot of high draft picks that don't turn out to be good footballers," Kerr said.

"Say Ashley Sampi, he was pick six which is a high draft pick and we would not have lived up to a pick six so far.

"To risk a high draft pick for a player that is already accomplished and a fantastic player is too much risk.

"And Brendan's a great player, but I think we have got a pretty good full forward (in Quinten Lynch) at the minute."

Meanwhile, Judd's teammates are also confident their skipper has the mental strength to continue to play through the pain in a bid to drive West Coast to their third successive grand final.

Despite saying his chronic groin injury felt 20 per cent better after a reduced workload to finish the home-and-away season, Judd will still have to endure more pain starting against Port Adelaide on Friday.

Eagles tagger Tyson Stenglein said he thought Judd could cope.

"Chris's mental capacity is as good as any I have known, in terms of playing with pain and playing with injuries," Stenglein said.

"It has been a long year playing with injuries, so you have really just got to steel yourself and know there are not many games to go.

"Chris is the leader of our side and our captain, and he will just be setting himself to do his best for the side."

And vice-captain Darren Glass said Judd had already proved his capacity to perform under duress.

"You don't win Brownlows, Norm Smiths - to be a good consistent player for a long time takes good mental strength.

"He will go out there on Friday night, contribute and find a way."

© 2009 AAP
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