Former Carlton coach Denis Pagan settled down with a glass of claret and tuned in to the telecast on Sunday evening of West Coast's game against the Western Bulldogs for one primary reason: to watch Josh Kennedy play.

For Kennedy had arrived at Carlton at the end of 2005, having been taken at No.4 in the national draft, and immediately impressed Pagan and most others at the club with his potential, even though he was a thin and slightly gangly 18-year-old.

Pagan played him at full-forward and in the forward pocket in 2006 and 2007 - until the coach's dismissal midway through that second season - understanding that the club needed to get 40 games into him at senior level before he would start to mature, become match-hardened and blossom.

But those best-laid plans were thwarted at the end of 2007 when, on the other side of the country, Chris Judd made it known he wanted to leave the West Coast Eagles and return to his hometown of Melbourne. In the feverish weeks of negotiations that followed, as the leading clubs in Melbourne made offer and counter-offer to secure Judd, Carlton emerged as the winning bidder.

But the price was high: they'd have to give up Kennedy to secure the Eagles champion, as well as the No.3 draft pick. 

Kennedy had played 22 games and kicked just 11 goals in his time at Princes Park but done nothing to dispel the widespread belief that he was one day going to become a very valuable key forward.

If the decision to swap him caused heartache at the time at Carlton, it's causing angina attacks throughout the organisation now.

For Kennedy, an East Fremantle boy originally, is now developing into the champion that many expected - and many at Carlton had feared.

Now 194cms and 99 kgs, the West Australian has become a formidable force in front of goal.

Pagan watched, enthralled, on Sunday as the 23-year-old kicked 10 goals to lead the rout of the Bulldogs, pulling down 15 marks in an almost Carey-esque performance and generally providing the sort of forward target that he, as a coach, used to love.

''He's pretty special, I reckon, and he's only going to get better,'' said the dual premiership coach. ''Forwards like that who can take strong marks and kick goals, they're the ones who'll win you finals, they're the ones you need in September when the pressure's right on. 

''And he's a quality kid. The fact he was put in the Eagles leadership group after 12 months is testimony to that.''

As to the debate that will invariably arise this season - did Carlton do the right thing in trading Kennedy for Judd? - Pagan said the Blues simply had no choice if they wanted to attract the Eagles captain to the club.

''Carlton always knew this might happen,'' he said. ''Everyone knew the consequences. They understood he was a young player with great potential who, in time, was going to grow and develop into a really valuable player. So they took a calculated risk - but they had to give up something decent if they wanted to get one of the game's best players to the club.

''I'm sure Carlton would liked to have done something differently because the young man didn't want to leave, but they had no choice.''

By ''something different'', Pagan might have been referring to an alternative trade: Brendan Fevola for Judd. But that possible deal was kyboshed by West Coast who, after their own unhappy experience with renegade players in previous years, did not want another maverick at the club.

Already this season, Carlton chief executive Stephen Kernahan has said how it breaks his heart each time he watches Kennedy turn out for West Coast.

Let's hope - for his own health - Kernahan did not follow Pagan's lead and tune in to FoxSports' telecast. Or we might have been calling for the medic.

What makes that so hard for Kernahan and others to stomach is that Kennedy never wanted to leave left Carlton when his name was floated as possible trade bait for Judd. He had settled into Melbourne, loved being at Carlton and wanted to stay.

But when the Eagles made it known that, of all the possible names being thrown up, it was Kennedy's that most appealed, that was all Carlton needed to know. The deal was done and the youngster was shipped off back to his home state.

After Sunday's game, West Coast coach John Worsfold said Kennedy's performance against the Dogs should have allayed any concerns Eagles fans may still have over the Judd deal.

It was the full-forward's best return in his 75th game and his 53rd for West Coast, and Worsfold hoped the haul would put to rest any doubts harboured by some people about who benefited more from the Judd trade.

"It wasn't ideal losing Chris Judd, but he's such a huge commodity that there was always going to be a good trade in there and we were more than pleased with the outcome from that trade, as we stated at that time," Worsfold said.

''It reinforces the faith and the ability that we all know he has."

And many at Carlton understood that he had four years ago. And are reminded about every time they see Kennedy take another strong mark and slot through another decisive goal while wearing the Eagles' No.17 guernsey.