Carlton's Chris Judd has announced his retirement from AFL football today after a ruptured ACL forced an early end to his 279-game career.

Judd, a dual Brownlow medallist and premiership captain with the West Coast Eagles in 2006, was expected to end his career at the conclusion of the 2015 season after almost calling it quits in 2014, but has been forced into retirement by another serious injury.

A former number three draft pick, Judd has battled shoulder, groin and hamstring injuries throughout his career but a ruptured ACL, which would sideline him for at least 12 months, is a mountain the 31 year old has been unable to climb.

Judd said he had no regrets about his switch to Carlton, but said in hindsight he should have retired at the end of last season.

"I am thankful that I chose the Carlton football club," Judd said.

"As I said to the players, I will never be slagging them off in the media if they have a crappy loss and I will never be too far away.

"I am sure I will have a connection with this place and West Coast as well for the rest of my life.

"As it turned out, it was the wrong decision (to play on in 2015) but it was very much made for the right reasons.

"My motives were pure. I will be left with no what-ifs."

The champion midfielder joined the Blues in 2008 and captained the club until 2013, winning best and fairest at the Blues in 2008, 2009 and 2010.

He won his first Brownlow with the Eagles in 2004, before claiming it a second time with Carlton in 2010. He won the Norm Smith Medal in West Coast's losing 2005 grand final, but lifted the premiership cup 12 months later.

Judd took time to thank each of his senior coaches, but made special mention of John Worsfold, his first AFL coach at West Coast, and Mick Malthouse, who he credits with rejuvenating his career at a late stage.

"To Woosha, he is someone who has got great values and someone who I have immense respect for," he said.

"To have him as an influence in my life at the age I was at West Coast, transitioning from a kid to a man was really important for me.

"To Mick, he taught me a lot of lessons on both football and life and came to the club at a time when I was a little bit drained, particularly about what had happened the year before.

"Mick really helped me to enjoy footy in that last period of time and for his work I am really thankful."

Judd succumbs to weight of injuries

After a career spent battling injuries, a serious knee proved to be the final straw for Chris Judd. ( Getty Images: Quinn Rooney )

Two shoulder reconstructions by the age of 17 were enough to bump him down to the third pick in the 2001 'superdraft', but the injury concerns would dog Judd for the length of his career.

His ability to play through pain and restrictive injuries is just part of what made him such an icon in the game, but Judd says he is relieved to be able to give his body a long overdue rest.

"It has been incredibly hard, it really has," he said.

"Just to be able to give the body a rest, but more importantly, to stop having to tell my body that you have to do this thing which you're not really able to do any more, I am looking forward to that."

When recruited by Carlton, Blues fans were filled with aspirations of premiership charges led by Judd, but two semi-final appearances in 2011 and 2013 were the best the team could manage.

While Judd rates the highs at Carlton among the best of his career, he says the success in 2006 with the Eagles was the highlight of his career.

"The premiership is hands, head and shoulders above the rest. That was a special day for a whole number of reasons," he said.

"In terms of Carlton, I think probably the Richmond final we won, that was a special day.

Chris Judd: AFL factfile Clubs: West Coast (2002-07), Carlton (2008-15)

West Coast (2002-07), Carlton (2008-15) Games: 279

279 Goals: 228

228 Disposals: 6374

6374 Marks: 717

717 Brownlow Medalist: 2004, 2010

"The Essendon final as well. Just days where the crowd was really noisy.

"I remember the noise of that Richmond final was probably the loudest that I played in front of. It felt like you were really at one with the whole Carlton army.

"That was special."

Judd indicated his next step would be into small business ownership in the next few years, but said he was most looking forward to spending some extra time with wife Bec and children Oscar and Billie.

"When I am playing with the kids and I know I have a game in two days' time and things start to get tight, it is hard to be as present as you would like to be with the kids sometimes," he said.

"Not having to worry about those sorts of things, once the knee is healed, we will be able to play rough stuff footy and I won't have in the back of my mind the fact I have to get up for something else in a couple of days time.

"I am looking forward to that."