Tributes flowed for Judge, who coached 89 games for the Hawks between 1996 to 1999 and 44 games for the Eagles between 2001 and 2002 and had been battling cancer for a number of years.

He would have turned 58 on Friday.

Rob Wiley, who was assistant coach to Judge at West Coast said he was a "passionate about the game".

"He lived and died by the sword with his approach to coaching," he said.

"He was really passionate and would challenge the players."

Judge started his career with WAFL side East Fremantle in 1975 and played 123 games, including a stint back at the club in 1987.

He moved to the powerful Hawthorn in 1983 and had immediate success as a sharp shooter, playing in the Hawks' premiership side of that year. Judge also won the Hawks' best first year player award and became renowned for his accurate kicking and silky skills.

Judge played in the Hawks' losing 1984 and 85 grand final sides and left the club after playing 89 games in 1986, after missing out on selection in the team's 1986 premiership win.

He moved to the newly-formed Brisbane Bears in 1987, playing 17 games over two seasons, but never really recaptured the form he had shown in the early days with the Hawks.

Judge took over the reigns at Hawthorn in 1996, and despite taking the Hawks to the finals in his first year, the club struggled after that - finishing 15th, 13th and ninth.

He moved to West Coast in 2000 but the Eagles battled for on-field success,  finishing 13th in his first year and 14th in 2001.

He was replaced by John Worsfold in 2002.

Judge did have some coaching success at the WAFL level, taking East Fremantle to two premierships in 1992 and 94.

Wiley who will coach East Fremantle this year, said Judge was a wonderful servant of the Sharks.

"His heart and soul was always with East Fremantle," he said.

Tributes flowed for judge, both from his football and coaching colleagues and those he worked with in the media.

After his time as Eagles coach, Judge became a regular columnist for The West Australian and a commentator for Radio 6PR and then the ABC.