Chris Judd has revealed how his mother Lisa Engel’s brutal verdict prompted him to shave his head.
The 40-year-old AFL star is now widely recognised for his distinctive bald look, having shaved off his hair almost 20 years ago.
However, she has now revealed that she was reluctant to go through with the big hairstyle change and wanted to keep her hair, before her mother Lisa intervened.
Speaking on The Front Bar, Chris told how Lisa had sat him down and told him to shave his head after seeing pictures of his “wimpy” hair at the 2006 AFL Grand Final.
“I think it was my mum who sat me down about a week after the grand final and there was a picture of me in the paper and she said, ‘I think it’s time to shave,'” he said of his savage verdict.
“I was a bit flimsy looking up front, but I think I still had another year or two left to be honest.”
When asked by host Sam Pang why he didn’t “stay strong” and ignore his mother’s advice, Chris confessed that she might have been right in her brutal judgment.
“It’s an uncomfortable conversation to have. If someone who cares about you has taken the time to tell you, chances are they’re right,” she shared.
Chris Judd has revealed how his mother Lisa Engel’s brutal verdict prompted him to shave his head while speaking on The Front Bar
The AFL star (pictured in 2006), 40, is now well-known for his bald look but was reluctant to make the change and wanted to keep his locks, before his mother Lisa intervened.
Chris, who is married to WAG queen Rebecca Judd, joked that he hasn’t “ruled out” having a hair transplant in Turkey yet.
On other occasions over the past few weeks, Chris has shown his support for troubled footballer Ben Cousins amid his career comeback.
Ben, 46, made it all the way to the semi-finals of Dancing With The Stars, and Chris recently praised the AFL star’s efforts in the competition.
“Ben, I just wanted to tell you that you’re doing a great job on Dancing with the Stars,” she said. Pete and Kymba from Mix94.5 Earlier this month.
‘I saw a bit of dancing back in your football days and there was a bit of work to be done back then, and it’s fair to say there’s probably a bit of work to be done now!
“But seriously, I see you having so much fun and trying something new. I wish you the best and hope you do well.”
Responding to Chris’ comments, Ben was full of praise: “He’s such a classy guy, we love Chris Judd. He’s a star! He’s definitely seen me dance in the past when I was sometimes overwhelmed.”
Chris told how Lisa had sat him down and told him to shave his head after seeing pictures of his “wimpy” hair at the 2006 AFL Grand Final (pictured)
Ben made it to the semi-final of Dancing With The Stars, but was then eliminated and narrowly missed out on a spot in the grand final.
The athlete has been rebuilding his life in recent years after a fall from grace, and agreed to join the reality dance competition to focus on a new challenge.
“I’m in a pretty good place at the moment and I’m in a position to take on some new challenges, and this has come along and probably for the first time in quite a while I’m in a position to try it,” he previously told The Herald Sun.
‘This worked for my mental state and my desire to jump into something.’
“I certainly don’t forget the hard work and commitment it took to get back to where I am,” he added.
“It’s a long-term game… It’s not about doing something and suddenly having it change overnight.”
On other occasions in recent weeks, Chris has shown his support for troubled footballer Ben Cousins amid his career comeback, praising him for his participation in Dancing With The Stars (pictured).
Ben won the Brownlow Medal in 2005 and captained the West Coast Eagles from 2001 to 2005, collecting the club’s best and fairest awards in four of those seasons.
He played 238 games and scored 205 goals for the West Coast Eagles, where he won a championship with the club in 2006.
His fall from grace was well documented beginning in 2007, when he publicly battled drug addiction and confronted his failed relationship with Maylea Tinecheff.
He was later sacked, given a one-year suspension by the AFL for repeated offences and jailed on six separate occasions over a period of 13 years.