Ben Who?

[RooDog]

I remember that day in November 2003 when at selection number 58 Adelaide picked this bloke called Ben Hudson and for the next 6 months everyones going Ben Who????? Now a further 18 months after that day the bloke has become our number 1 ruckman, a great feat for someone who only played basketball as a junior and only took up football at a mature age. He had played mainly in Queensland and from memory 1-2 seasons with Weribee in the VFL. Everyone like can this bloke play, who is he? are we taking a massive risk? well we have now those questions have been asked and answered, whislt we are only 4 games into the season, it was the work in the pre season that showed he was ready to step up and be our number 1 ruckman. Yes he can play and like our other ruckman he isnt scared to put his body onthe line and take a big pack mark when its needed, unlike when Clarke gets near a marking opportunity and i can barely look im relaxed when Huddo is going for the ball as he is a good strong mark these days. Last year his tap work left a lot to be desired but his off season work with Mick Redden has clearly paid off and now the ball is being directed down to our midfielders a lot more. His stats have been solid this yerar averaging 11 possesions and 4 marks a game which isnt a lot really but he is still learning and gets better with every game, this bloke can be our number 1 ruckman for the next 6-8 years, yes it was a risk in drafting him but it was paid off.

Ben Who?

Ben Hudson

 

[Eggzoi]

I hope he's not our no. 1 ruckman for years, because that would probably mean that Meesen, Maric, Andrews and Griffin failed.
Or Huddo became the AA ruckman, which I like better.

 

[WaynesWorld19]

Raised on talking footy last night that such is Hudsons success at 25-26 years of age, and the same with MItchell from Hawthorn (not coming through the "traditional" path to AFL) that more clubs will be looking at mature age players in the future.

For those who say only recruit 18 year olds and NEVER recruit 25-26 year old players, I say how can you restrict your recruiting options to such a degree?

Yes you probably are not going to pick-up a Daniel Wells but your going to in all probability pick-up a team need and possibly s in Hudsons case a very handy player.

 

[jmorg1]

Did anyone check the stats vs Sydney? This bloke got seven, yes SEVEN, clearances. Ben Hudson, our RUCKMAN, got SEVEN clearances.

UNBELIEVABLE!

Scary thing is, he's only going to get better.

 

[Lozza71]

Did anyone check the stats vs Sydney? This bloke got seven, yes SEVEN, clearances. Ben Hudson, our RUCKMAN, got SEVEN clearances.

UNBELIEVABLE!

Scary thing is, he's only going to get better.

And Huddo spent more than half of the game on the bench!

 

[GoSarge]

I remember that day in November 2003 when at selection number 58 Adelaide picked this bloke called Ben Hudson and for the next 6 months everyones going Ben Who????? Now a further 18 months after that day the bloke has become our number 1 ruckman, a great feat for someone who only played basketball as a junior and only took up football at a mature age. He had played mainly in Queensland and from memory 1-2 seasons with Weribee in the VFL. Everyone like can this bloke play, who is he? are we taking a massive risk? well we have now those questions have been asked and answered, whislt we are only 4 games into the season, it was the work in the pre season that showed he was ready to step up and be our number 1 ruckman. Yes he can play and like our other ruckman he isnt scared to put his body onthe line and take a big pack mark when its needed, unlike when Clarke gets near a marking opportunity and i can barely look im relaxed when Huddo is going for the ball as he is a good strong mark these days. Last year his tap work left a lot to be desired but his off season work with Mick Redden has clearly paid off and now the ball is being directed down to our midfielders a lot more. His stats have been solid this yerar averaging 11 possesions and 4 marks a game which isnt a lot really but he is still learning and gets better with every game, this bloke can be our number 1 ruckman for the next 6-8 years, yes it was a risk in drafting him but it was paid off.

Ben Who?

Ben Hudson

For starters at pick 58, he was a fantastic smoky for the club so well done for them for 1) identifying him as a possible late smoky and 2) having the balls to pick a guy who has only been playing footy for 1 year at that stage.

In football, attitude determines how good you will be. Take Fev, Richo and Tarrant for example, supremely talented players, but could be even better if they didnt have brain fades (dummy spitting, hands on hips), or concentration lapses when it mattered. Hudson is a perfect example of someone having a great attitude to his football. Genuinely gives everything at each contest.

In regards to his stats, I think they are pretty reasonable considering the amount of time he spends on the bench.

Question - Does anyone think we would have taken Ricky Mott if he were available ? (I think he went a few picks earlier in the same draft)