Ben Hudson

[DaveW]

Just directing you to a thread on the Bulldogs board for a bit about him:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?s=&threadid=93694

and an older one:

http://www.bigfooty.com/forum/showthread.php?threadid=82516&highlight=hudson

And here's a pic (he's the tall one, duh):

P.S. Can anyone here return the favour and give them a bit of info about WWT's Isaac Thompson?

 

[Jerome]

Thanks for that Dave. Thanks for your updates during the draft today too!

From Inside Football:

Isacc Thompson
In the AIS AFL squad this year but missed alot of footy because of glandular fever.

Doesnt have much good form in 2003 to go on, poor bloke. Heard he's fairly quick tho.

 

[macca23]

I've been listening to 5AA's Sunday Roast this morning with those 2 Einsteins of footy, Stephen Rowe and Andrew Jarman filling in for Mark Aiston.

The guts of today's program is to interview the Recruitment Manager of each club to discuss the draft and the basis of their selections with them.

First cab off the rank was James Fantasia, and James was very communicative and quite happy to give as much information as was wanted - if only these 2 morons running the show could have asked the right questions.

More by accident than design, we did get to hear James tell us about Fergus Watts. He believes that he is the man around which Adelaide's forward line will be built in the future. He has absolutely huge wraps on him. He basically confirmed everything that we have either seen in this young man or read about him.

Jars at least had the intelligence to ask why Krueger and not Hall. James went into quite a detailed reply giving 3 main reasons in favour of Krueger:

- He was local (confirms fears that Hall might want to go home)

- He was more mature and ready to play AFL next year - Hall is 2 to 3 years away.

- He can play as a KPP

Of course, the mystery man to all of us is Ben Hudson. Here was the perfect opportunity to find out more about him from the man who identified and selected him. But do you think that moron Stephen Rowe even mentioned his name, let alone ask any questions about him??? No sir!!! That would have been too sensible and helpful!!! Plenty of waffle from Rowe and co but not a peep about pick 58.

How the hell does this buffoon Rowe get on the radio??

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by macca23
I

How the hell does this buffoon Rowe get on the radio??

1. He played for the Adelaide Crows.
2. KG likes him.

Unfortunatley, I think that explains it.

Thanks for the report Macca. I can understand your frustration. It could have been worse, it could have been McDermott and Wildy.

That's a pretty poor effort from those two. All they had to do was read the Sunday Mail and prepare 3 or 4 questions on each recruit for Fantasia.

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

hahahah he looks a bit funny

k
xx

 

[tribey]

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
hahahah he looks a bit funny

k
xx

Heheh... like that weird cousin that everyone has

 

[PAfolwr]

Give him a mullet and a very very very deep voice and you could have your very own Kernahan, going by that photo.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Looks like the dawky guy in 1 of those bad teen movies.

He had no chance of getting picked up by the Hawks!

 

[PAfolwr]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Looks like the dawky guy in 1 of those bad teen movies.

He had no chance of getting picked up by the Hawks!

 

[Scotty's_Girl]

I reckon he looks like a bloke that should've been in 'Dude Where's My Car?'

"What's mine say?"
"Sweet. What's mine say?"
"Dude. What's mine say?"

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

well - I have been told many times on this site looks aren't everything when playing footy!!!

I am going to assume its a bad photo of him (I have some awful ones floating around) and I will wait till I see him for myself!

k
xx

 

[spindoctor]

But is there a bad photo of Mark Stevens?

Some of those ones you took from your spying spot in his garden probably aren't the nicest...

 

[macca23]

Originally posted by MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl
well - I have been told many times on this site looks aren't everything when playing footy!!!

I don't give a fat rat's clacker whether he looks like a regurgitated dog's dinner or whatever.

If Hudson or any other player for that matter can add something to the Crows side in a football sense then they're welcome with both arms.

 

[spindoctor]

Be careful, he might take the offer of your warm embrace up!

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
I don't give a fat rat's clacker whether he looks like a regurgitated dog's dinner or whatever.

If Hudson or any other player for that matter can add something to the Crows side in a football sense then they're welcome with both arms.

Hear hear.

Its not a bloody beauty contest.

 

[DaveW]

Here's an article from today's Advertiser:

http://www.theadvertiser.news.com.au/footy03/story_page/0,8747,7958123%5E21544,00.html

Mystery of selection No. 58 revealed
By ANDREW CAPEL
24nov03

BEN who? That was the question asked by many, including AFL National Talent Manager Kevin Sheehan, when Adelaide called the name Ben Hudson at Saturday's national draft.

Of all the ruckmen linked with the Crows before the draft, Hudson wasn't among them.
But Adelaide has been tracking the 200cm Werribee giant for months and yesterday declared he was ready to step straight into AFL ranks as support for incumbents Rhett Biglands and Matthew Clarke.

"The guy's ready to go," Crows recruiting manager James Fantasia said of the player taken with the 58th pick.

"He can walk straight in and play against these blokes (AFL ruckmen). He's been doing it all year so from our point of view there's no guesswork with him."

Of the 70 players drafted, Hudson was one of the biggest surprises.

But one rival recruiting manager, who did not want to be named, believes Adelaide might have performed a masterstroke.

"Not many people knew about him (Hudson) but the guy can play," he said. "His ability to palm the ball is excellent and he could be a great fit for the club."

The Crows' confidence in the mature 24-year-old stems from his performances against AFL players in the VFL this year.

Fantasia claims Hudson not only competed against the likes of Steven Alessio, Matthew Allan, David Loats and Peter Street but more often than not outpointed them.

So how did the club unearth a player few had even heard of before the draft? "Some time ago (even before Ben Marsh was delisted) we identified the ruck as an area we needed support, certainly some players to develop over the next few years," Fantasia said.

"We told all of our recruiters around Australia to keep an eye on ruckmen. We said even if they were only 180cm and pinch-hit in the ruck we wanted to know about them."

Hudson was spotted by Fantasia's brother, Tony, playing in the VFL and his efforts against some high-profile players won him support in the Adelaide camp.

When a couple of younger players the Crows had been eyeing were drafted by other clubs and ex-Sydney and Fremantle big man Ricky Mott went to Carlton with the 57th selection – the pick before Adelaide – Hudson was given the nod.

While he is big and strong, the Crows believe Hudson has a huge upside, having only played football seriously for three or four years after giving up a promising basketball career.

"He's mature in age but very young in terms of football experience," Fantasia said.

"The fact that he can play (AFL) now and also has so much improvement was enticing."

Adelaide, which selected strong-marking forward Fergus Watts with its first pick at No. 14, also drafted another ruckman – Glenelg 20-year-old Josh Krueger.

The Crows are expected to have 10 players start training with them this week in preparation for the pre-season and rookie drafts on December 16. Seven will be ruckmen.

Adelaide has one spot on its senior list and four positions on its rookie list – of which two are tipped to be occupied by big men – to fill.




It sounds like we were hoping Hall or Eriksen might slip.

I do like that quote from the rival recruiting manager. (I wonder why he wouldn't want to be named though. )

I'm also genuinely glad we didn't get Mott. There's just something not to like about the way it all ended for him at Sydney.

 

[Arden]

Hi guys,

thought I would jump on and let you know a bit about Ben. He is from the Gold Coast where I used to play basketball with him, and be coached by his old man. He had a huge growth spurt at about 17, because he used to play guard. He has good hands, and should be good palming the ball out of the ruck, as his hands are massive.

He only took up playing footy again about 4 years ago when he gave basketball up, and played for Mt Gravatts AFLQ premiership side last year. Went down and played for Werribee this year, because his old man used to play and coach there years ago.

He is a big body, should still have a good leap, and is a good all-round athlete.

Now for the bad news........that is a true to life photo!

 

[macca23]

Thanks for the info Arden. Every little bit helps.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by DaveW
The Crows are expected to have 10 players start training with them this week in preparation for the pre-season and rookie drafts on December 16. Seven will be ruckmen.

Holly ****. 7 will be ruckman. I guess these blokes would be among those:

Jason Whitehead
Clint Dubieniecki
Rowan Andrews
Michael Embley

I still think we might need to draft a ruckman next year or trade for him.

 

[Mong]

This obsession with ruckmen is getting ridiculous.

Why haven't we been looking for ruckmen the last couple of years? How can we all of a sudden wake up and realise we need a few when we showed absolutely no interest at all last year to get any. The current situation didn't happen overnight and questions have to be asked as to why we waited until now to look to bolster the ruck. We've left it so late that we are now forced to scrape the bottom of the barrell.

And in the mean time they are totally neglecting other areas that need work like defence.

Typical Crows recruiting, always on the reactive, never proactive.


****

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

Originally posted by spindoctor
But is there a bad photo of Mark Stevens?

Some of those ones you took from your spying spot in his garden probably aren't the nicest...

hahahahaha - the one I took when I was hiding behind his letterbox didn't do him justice!!!

I have NOT been to his house. Let me say that I am NOT that obsessed!

Now spindoctor...........I haven't met you - so how do you know all my tricks??

k
xx

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

Originally posted by macca23
I don't give a fat rat's clacker whether he looks like a regurgitated dog's dinner or whatever.

If Hudson or any other player for that matter can add something to the Crows side in a football sense then they're welcome with both arms.

yup I agree with you Macca23.

k
xx

 

[MarksGirl-kbcrowgirl]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
Hear hear.

Its not a bloody beauty contest.

well Stiffy..........thats not strictly true. I went to the Hottest Crow 2003 dinner and let me tell you.........the boys were soley judged by looks. I did vote for Mark Stevens - but he didn't win - Andrew McLeod won.

k
xx

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by ****
This obsession with ruckmen is getting ridiculous.

Why haven't we been looking for ruckmen the last couple of years? How can we all of a sudden wake up and realise we need a few when we showed absolutely no interest at all last year to get any. The current situation didn't happen overnight and questions have to be asked as to why we waited until now to look to bolster the ruck. We've left it so late that we are now forced to scrape the bottom of the barrell.

And in the mean time they are totally neglecting other areas that need work like defence.

Typical Crows recruiting, always on the reactive, never proactive.


****

Agreed. I said at the end of last year we needed another ruckman or two after Angwin left.

Tim Nicholls from Norwood trained with us last year but didnt get picked up. Heck even before that Brogan and Jamar have trained with us. So we've left it 12 - 18 months and we're in the current situation.

You're correct about re structuring our defence as well. If Smart had of retired, Parker would have been in there providing a bit more height and speed. I think Scott Stevens will be given a go a defence from the Wiz Cup onwards.

 

[Jerome]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
[B
I still think we might need to draft a ruckman next year or trade for him. [/B]

Hello Brad Ottens!