Past Ben Hudson (2012-2012)

[Grimreepah]

2011 Trade Week

Lions gain the Western Bulldogs' Ben Hudson in exchange for the Club's fourth round selection (Pick No.70 overall)

Summary:

* knee reconstruction [Adelaide] (#7)
* Ben Hudson's Beard Appreciation Society [Bulldogs] (#12)
* retirement [Bulldogs] (#14)
* 2012 review (#152)
Merrett-Murray medal results:

2012:

Tribunal record:

none

 

[Grimreepah]

Lions' lifeline for Hudson
Michael Gleeson
October 9, 2011

A MONTH after retiring, Western Bulldogs ruckman Ben Hudson could yet remain an AFL footballer, with the Brisbane Lions surprisingly offering the veteran a lifeline.

Hudson had intended to move home to Queensland and play for Southport on the Gold Coast next year, but the Lions have spoken to him about playing on for one more year.

The 32-year-old veteran remains on the Bulldogs' list and they would trade with the Lions for a late pick - possibly in the 50s - to help the popular ruck continue his AFL career.

Lions confirm Hudson interest
By Mark Macgugan
11:20 AM Mon 10 Oct, 2011

Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr says Hudson, who although retired is currently still on the Bulldogs' list, is an option.

"If Mitch moves, we need back-up support for Matthew Leuenberger," Kerr said before the start of trade talks at Etihad Stadium on Monday morning.

"There's a number of ruckmen available, and Ben's one of those ruckmen.

"It's a bit early to pre-empt it, but we'll see what comes out of it."

Trade week updates - day five

• by: Staff writers
• From: Herald Sun
• October 14, 2011 7:42PM

Lions national talent manager Rob Kerr said Hudson’s experience would be invaluable for the club’s young players during 2012.

“Ben is in the mix with us,’’ Kerr said on 3AW.

“We’ve got Matthew Leuenberger the first ruck who we think is a very good ruckman for us going forward and we’ve got a couple of young guys coming through our academy program.

“But we need to put a little bit more experience around the group for a year, maybe two, and we think Ben Hudson could play a role for us for 12 months at the very least.”

 

[Grimreepah]

Wikipedia

Hudson was born in Victoria, but moved to Queensland at a young age where he grew up at Palm Beach, a suburb of the Gold Coast. He played basketball until 2000, when he began driving to Brisbane to study at the University of Queensland where he played for the University of Queensland Australian Football Club at 21 years of age as a ruckman.

His coach later recommended that he play for Mount Gravatt Football Club where he played under coach Danny Craven. At Mount Gravatt, he won a Best and Fairest in 2001, before taking part in the club's 2002 premiership side. That year he represented Queensland against Western Australia.

He later returned to Victoria, where he tried out with the Werribee Football Club, where at the relatively late age of 24, Adelaide Football Club talent scouts recognized his skills and lured him to the AFL at pick number 58 in the 2003 AFL Draft.

Statistics:

rleague
footywire
final siren

 

[Grimreepah]

Mt Gravatt Vultures

Born: 24 February 1979
Height: 199cm
Weight: 105cm
Recruited from: Mt.Gravatt/University of Queensland Bulldogs
Draft Details: Selection #58 (4th round) 2003 National Draft Traded to Western Bulldogs 2007 National Draft
AFL Debut: Rd 3 2004 – Adelaide v Fremantle, Subiaco (11 April)
Jumper Number: TBC

Spurred on by the AFL dream, he chose to try his luck with VFL club Werribee in 2003. It worked and he was a mature age draftee by the Adelaide Crows at No.58 in the 2003 National Draft. He made his AFL debut in round 3 of 2004, playing 13 games in his first season and being an emergency nine times. In 2005 he played every game until a serious knee injury in round 20 saw him miss the entire 2006 AFL season, although he did return with North Adelaide in the SANFL late in the year.

 

[Grimreepah]

Pick 58 in the 2003 National Draft

 

[Grimreepah]

Adelaide profile

Guernsey number: 13.
Crows debut: Round 3 v Fremantle, 2004.
AFC games: 55. AFC goals: 6.
Recruited from: Werribee.
DOB: February 24, 1979.
No 58 pick at 2003 national draft.

Adelaide plucked Hudson from VFL club Werribee as a 24-year-old ruckman to provide big man support but although raw he didn’t take long to become a contributor. His career kicked on in 2005 but he was injured on the eve of the 2005 finals and required a knee reconstruction. Returned to the Adelaide line-up in 2007 but at the end of the season asked to be traded to the Western Bulldogs.

 

[Grimreepah]

Knee reconstruction
August 17, 2005 15:46:00

Hudson has undergone a knee reconstruction which will force him to watch the Crows' premiership bid from the sidelines.He said he knew immediately the injury was a bad one.
"Having studied physio for four years and, hearing a bit of a pop and pain for 20 seconds like nothing else I've felt before, I pretty much knew, I tried to convince the doctor that it was only remedial," he said.
"I knew pretty much straight away, but I'm waiting for the scans to find out, but yeah, I was pretty much resigned to it."

 

[Grimreepah]

Crows suspend Hudson
ANDREW CAPEL
August 09, 2007 12:45pm

Hudson was yesterday one of three Crows - forward Bernie Vince and midfielder Darren Pfeiffer were the others - suspended by the club from playing this weekend after breaking the team's recently-imposed, player-driven, late-night curfews. The tough suspensions were handed down by the team's leadership group, led by injured captain Mark Ricciuto, in consultation with Craig, Reid and chief executive Steven Trigg.

Hudson was banned for being out one hour after the 11 o'clock Sunday night curfew, which was introduced three weeks ago. Reid said Vince and Pfeiffer volunteered their curfew breaches yesterday while Hudson, one of the stars of Adelaide's Showdown XXIII win, was caught out. He is understood to have attended team-mate Andrew McLeod's 31st birthday celebrations that afternoon before heading to the Old Lion Hotel at North Adelaide where he stayed until midnight.

 

[Grimreepah]

Crows resigned to losing Hudson

• by: DANIEL BRETTIG
• From: AAP
• September 18, 2007 11:30PM

"We're still in negotiations with Ben's management, they are after three years and we're offering two, but we're still negotiating and we haven't given up," Reid said today."The Bulldogs have shown an interest, we're aware of that and discussions will continue.
"We've offered him two years, we don't want to lose him, but he'll start next season at 29-year-old and then the following season at 30, so three years is a bit of a stretch."

Western Bulldogs get their man Ben Hudson

• by: Mark Stevens
• From: Herald Sun
• October 10, 2007 12:00AM

"We're very pleased to get him on our list," Clayton said.

"He had lived in Melbourne previously and was keen to come back here."

Hudson, 28, finished sixth in Saturday night's Adelaide best-and-fairest count, but did not attend.

He was second overall in the competition this year for hardball gets.

Several senior Crows have bemoaned losing Hudson, including Mark Ricciuto and Andrew McLeod.

Official Trades

TRADE THIRTEEN:
Adelaide receives: Western Bulldogs picks No.22 and No. 54.
Western Bulldogs receive: Ben Hudson and Adelaide’s pick No.43.

Crows may already be missing Ben Hudson
By Steve Larkin
March 20, 2008

Craig hailed Hudson's second efforts and clearance abilities, but expressed no regret at losing the 29-year-old. "That is a real strength of Ben ... his second effort around the stoppages," Craig said.
"And that is something that our younger guys would like to add to their game and we have seen patches of it in the NAB Cup both from Griffin and Maric."

 

[Grimreepah]

Bulldogs Profile

The veteran ruckman continues to improve with age, last year enjoying the best of his six AFL seasons, having more disposals, hit-outs and impact than ever before. Was sixth in the best and fairest and was perhaps unlucky to miss the All-Australian squad. One of the few Dogs to excel in the qualifying final loss to Collingwood, when he had 19 touches and 31 hit-outs to eclipse Pies premiership hero Darren Jolly. Seventh in the AFL for hard-ball gets, he won the inaugural Brad Johnson Award for best team player.

Player honours: pre-season premiership side 2010.

 

[Grimreepah]

Questionnaire
By Jennifer Witham
5:32 PM Wed 27 Aug, 2008

What club did you support growing up?
Carlton, because my dad barracked for them, and still does.

Using one word, how would you describe the life of an AFL footballer?
Interesting.

What is your favourite team to play against and why?
The Brisbane Lions, because I get to go home and visit family and friends. And the weather is better.

Is the game becoming too fast?
Yes, only because I'm a slow, tall ruckman.

If you could be any other player, who would you be?
Lindsay Gilbee, because he can kick.

 

[Grimreepah]

Hair of the Dogged
Rohan Connolly
May 22, 2010

THERE'S always the potential danger for cult figures in any field that the worth of their tangible contribution to a cause will be overshadowed by their quirks. As was the case a couple of years back when Ben Hudson the Western Bulldogs ruckman became Ben Hudson the beard.

This was no mere designer stubble, mind you, but a raging torrent of red more befitting an Ayatollah than an AFL ruckman. It spawned immediate awe, soon enough a ''Ben Hudson's Beard Appreciation Society'', and regular mentions in teammate Bob Murphy's column in The Age.

Hudson is renowned at the "kennel" for hanging it on everyone and everything. Fortunately for all of those targets, neither does anyone do a better line in self-deprecation than he. It pops up when reminded of Rodney Eade's remark from the coach's box 15 minutes into Hudson's first game with the Bulldogs. "Is he injured, or is that just the way he runs?" Eade asked. "I do tend to have a bit of shuffle," Hudson laughs.

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[Grimreepah]

Western Bulldogs axe Hudson, Markovic

• by: Matt Windley
• From: Herald Sun
• May 27, 2011 11:27AM

THE Western Bulldogs have dropped ruckman Ben Hudson in a savage reaction to last week's 123-point loss to West Coast.

 

[Grimreepah]

Dogs call it quits
By Jennifer Witham
11:00 AM Wed 24 Aug, 2011

WESTERN BULLDOGS ruckman Ben Hudson and forward Mitch Hahn have both announced they will retire at the end of the season with the former telling the club of his intentions before a training session at Whitten Oval. Hudson will play his farewell match in round 24 against Fremantle.

Hudson, 32, who began his AFL career with Adelaide, has played 142 senior matches after making his debut in 2004. He joined the Bulldogs in 2008 after 55 matches with the Crows and had his best season in 2010, finishing sixth in the best and fairest and winning the inaugural Brad Johnson Award for best team player.

Hudson retires
August 24, 2011

An unfashionable left-footer, he was one of the most competitive big men in the league once the ball hit the ground, his effectiveness not ending with the hit-outs. A fine competitor on the field, Hudson was something of a cult figure off the ground, being dubbed 'The People's Beard' by teammates.

Dogs send Barry Hall, Ben Hudson out winners

• From: AAP
• September 03, 2011 6:00PM

Hall kicked five goals as he and Ben Hudson enjoyed a farewell win at the expense of an injury-ravaged Fremantle at Etihad Stadium today.

Ruck stocks in safe hands, says outgoing Hudson
Peter Hanlon
August 25, 2011

Ben Hudson was not your typical footballer. TONGUE-in-bearded-cheek, Ben Hudson has a typically mischievous take on where his retirement will leave the Western Bulldogs. ''They'll have a day of mourning, then struggle for the next eight to 10 years.'' Behind the mirth lie salient questions: how are the Dogs placed in the ruck department? And why is Hudson going, when the club's next coach might have a place for him?

To the latter first. The 32-year-old knew the club was hamstrung on such a call until the appointment of Rodney Eade's successor, so he made it for them. His wholehearted commitment to the contest has been his greatest strength, yet he found himself oscillating, and that was enough. Besides, if the new boss wants him, ''He can give me a call in Bali.''​

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[Grimreepah]

Hudson to bolster ruck stocks
12:27 PM Mon 17 Oct, 2011

The Brisbane Lions today completed a trade deal with the Western Bulldogs that will see the Club receive ruckman Ben Hudson in exchange for fourth round selection (Pick No.70 overall).

Discussion thread

 

[Hollow Knight]

I for one welcome The People's Beard to the Lions.

 

[Fatcat08]

Welcome aboard Ben, looking forward to someone showing the lions boys how to grow a decent beard, not some bum hippy crap!! (Johnstone and Hawkesly I'm looking at you)

[YOUTUBE]RmFnarFSj_U[/YOUTUBE]

 

[jackess]

As much as I don't want Leuenberger to get injured I would really like to see Hudson playing well in the Lions colours. Maybe they can play 2 rucks.

 

[Ray Button]

Blacky is no longer the oldest player at the club!

 

[Grimreepah]

Jason Akermanis rates the game's best sledgers

• Jason Akermanis
• Herald Sun
• July 14, 2010 12:00AM

At the kennel no one comes close in the art of sledging to the 'people's beard' Ben Hudson. Huddo is a humorous fellow, always working on his one-liners by practising on his teammates. No one is safe. He loves to get the gossip on the opposition, and if he has some, he will use it, usually to great effect.
After the game most of the debrief will be if he was able to sledge someone he wanted to niggle during the game, much to the amusement of us all. Most of the time it is good-natured, but he saves his best work for other ruckman.

 

[Grimreepah]

Link ....

Hudson's call-up from retirement is curious, but at least offers serviceable ruck back-up should disaster strike Matthew Leuenberger.

 

[Grimreepah]

HUDSON COMES 'HOME' IN BUSY TRADE WEEK FOR QUEENSLANDERS
Monday 17 October 2011

"We needed to find someone who could provide immediate support for Matthew Leuenberger and, at the same time, we want to be able to ensure that in the years ahead there is room for a young ruckman (and) Ben seemed to fit that bill perfectly,” explained Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr.
"He has had significant experience at AFL level, is a natural competitor and widely regarded as a quality person. At 32, Ben's body is still in good shape which could be a result of the fact he was a relatively late bloomer who never started playing AFL until he was 25.”

 

[cotter101]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/a...ack-up-for-lions/story-fn69a32t-1226169603046

BEN Hudson’s primary role at the Brisbane Lions will be to support developing ruckman Matthew Leuenberger.

But Lions’ national talent manager Rob Kerr insists Hudson, 32, will be able to win a senior spot in his own right.

“When we spoke to Ben we said we clearly need someone who’s going to support Matthew Leuenberger,” Kerr said.

“But Whether he’s injured or not, there’s an opportunity for Ben to force his way in to the team.

“Watching him towards the end of the year I thought he was playing some fairly decent footy. Over the course of the season he averaged just shy of 17 possessions.

 

[luthor]

If Huddo doesn't work out at the Lions, he can always get a gig with ZZ Top.....


http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/03/ZZ_Top_Live.jpg/250px-ZZ_Top_Live.jpg

.....whose only beardless member happens to be the drummer......the most un-aptly named............ Frank Beard

 

[luthor]

Anyways, I reckon he's a bargain for Pick 60 or whatever and I wish him well for his new role with the Lions