Hudson

[PAfolwr]

IMO he was obviously a good pickup from his first outing. Surely now he needs to play a lot.

From here

Crows need Hudson grunt, says Jarman
By ANDREW CAPEL
07apr04

FORMER Crows star Andrew Jarman says Adelaide should punt on shock off-season recruit Ben Hudson and play the ruckman-forward against Fremantle at Subiaco on Sunday.

Jarman has seen Hudson first hand in his new role as North Adelaide coach and says the Crows, winless after two matches, could do with his grunt.
"Huddo's got a lot to offer because he competes and that's all a coach can ask," Jarman said, noting that Adelaide had offered little resistance in its two defeats.

"He's ultra-competitive with great second and third efforts, which is unusual for a ruckman.

"At the end of the day, they (the Crows) will have to bring him up and have a good look at him because I don't think Gary (Ayres) has anything to lose."

Hudson was inspirational in the Roosters' round one victory against Glenelg and while Jarman is reluctant to lose him to the AFL, he says he has deserved his opportunity.

However at this stage of his development Jarman said Hudson would be best suited to a key forward – rather than rucking – role.

"Because he's only been in the caper for four or five years he's very raw in terms of a ruckman," Jarman said.

"But he can pinch-hit up forward because he's got a good set of hands. If I was the coach of the Crows I would put him in the goalsquare or in a forward pocket where the opposition has to put a tall back on him.

"He hasn't got the leg power to play across half-forward but sit him at the bottom of the goalsquare and he might pinch a goal a quarter. And he will give a contest."

Hudson, drafted by Adelaide from VFL club Werribee with the No. 58 pick at last year's national draft, is mature in age (25) but immature in football terms, having only played the game seriously in the past few years after giving up basketball.

The 199cm left-footer has come on in leaps and bounds since arriving at West Lakes and is recognised as one of the club's hardest trainers.

"This bloke already has gained the respect of his team-mates, both at North and the Crows," Jarman said.

"In terms of the ruck, maybe Gary's got to look at something different and give him a bit of a look.

"Clarkey (Matthew Clarke) is still a great tap ruckman whereas Rhett (Biglands) has to get some touch and confidence back. Huddo and Rhett are very similar in that they are very much crash, bang-type ruckman. I'd put him across the full forward line and perhaps ruck him for the last five to 10 minutes of each quarter to see what he can do.

"The Crows have got nothing to lose by playing him. Gary needs to try something fresh and perhaps Hudson is what they need."

 

[macca23]

I agree with Andrew Jarman.

This guy gives 100%. He would only get better for playing each week - the more we play him the more we'll get back.

Perhaps his attitude might rub off on some of the others.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by macca23
I agree with Andrew Jarman.

This guy gives 100%. He would only get better for playing each week - the more we play him the more we'll get back.

Perhaps his attitude might rub off on some of the others.

What he said.

Huddo is the sort of player that can intimidate the opposition and inspire his team mates with his grunt and effort. I love his never say die attitude and as Jars said thats not very common in a ruckman. I don't think we should play him as a forward but I sure as hell would play him in the ruck.

The bloke hasn't put a foot wrong in any game he has played so far. His form during the pre-season and in SANFL has been excellent. We have to reward him for his effort.

One way I see Sandilands having lesser influence than ususal is if we have a ruckman that will jump into him at every opportunity. Huddo and Biglands will do that. Clarke won't. Maybe we will play all 3 of them and use Biglands as a defender and McGregor at CHF.

 

[PAfolwr]

As I have said on here after his first game, if I was a Crow supporter he is the recruit that I would be most excited about at least short term, and apart from a couple of others on here I am surprised at the lack of excitement about him.

I think that your midfield has made your current ruckmen seem better than they really are perhaps, but from an outsider point of view you have seriously lacked "his" characteristics in your games.
I'd be screaming for Ayres to try him out now. Now is the time to find out if he can cut it or not at AFL level, not later in the year.

Sorry to say this, but you will probably lose most of your games in the first "round", so it's a perfect opportunity to experiment with the new players.
In the second half when you should win most games you want your best team out there and to gel by the time the finals arrive, assuming you make them.

 

[Mong]

I'd be happy to play him.

At some stage when a team keeps putting in performances like we have been, you have to reward players that have got a great attitude and work ethic.

That's what we need as much as anything right now.


****

 

[johnnypanther]

hudson would be in my side without hesitation - his work ethic,attitude, chasing, tackling etc all set an example for the rest of the team

i dont think that we have room to play 3 ruckmen since 2 of them rarely take a mark and i thing our ruckwork - tapping - has been much overrated - how often has a clean tap gone to a player who then breaks away cleanly

i'ld play biglands and hudson rotating off the bench:
- biggles playing a kick behind the play not forward as he gets under the ball when forward whereas in defence he is more suited with his straight and aggressive run at the ball - i thought his 2nd half last week showed what he could do with more aggression and a couple of contested marks even
- huddo can go forward or back as he has surer hands and if he breaks even in the ruckwork then i dont believe the end result is any worse than it has been in the past with clarke's "precision" tapping down to our midfielders with an opposition just waiting to tackle

 

[Bockchoy67]

Congradulations must go to Ben Hudson after being named the team for Sunday's game against Fremantle.

Ben looks to be in form ad we could really use him right now.

Let's just hope he makes the team, rather than being named and then being thrown out for no reason.

Good luck Huddo.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Bockchoy67
Congradulations must go to Ben Hudson after being named the team for Sunday's game against Fremantle.

Ben looks to be in form ad we could really use him right now.

Let's just hope he makes the team, rather than being named and then being thrown out for no reason.

Good luck Huddo.

I think unless we drop Bassett and play Biglands as a key defender, Hudson will only be an emergency.

I get the funny feeling that Ayres wants to play Kenny at CHF at least until Perrie gets back into form. This would mean that if Husdon comes in, Biglands goes to FB and Bassett gets the axe.

 

[Bockchoy67]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
I think unless we drop Bassett and play Biglands as a key defender, Hudson will only be an emergency.

I get the funny feeling that Ayres wants to play Kenny at CHF at least until Perrie gets back into form. This would mean that if Husdon comes in, Biglands goes to FB and Bassett gets the axe.

Unfortunately, I can't see that happening. Hudson deserves it, but Ayres seems to have a lot of faith in Hound Dog, and so we can only wait.

Huddo mght still make the team, but if that's what needs to happen, then I don't see a chance.

It's a very retrospectrive issue. Basset can play Full Back very well when in form (which he lacks right now), yet bringing in Hudson in place of Basset could spark some much - needed form and electricity in the whole team.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Bockchoy67
Unfortunately, I can't see that happening. Hudson deserves it, but Ayres seems to have a lot of faith in Hound Dog, and so we can only wait.

Huddo mght still make the team, but if that's what needs to happen, then I don't see a chance.

It's a very retrospectrive issue. Basset can play Full Back very well when in form (which he lacks right now), yet bringing in Hudson in place of Basset could spark some much - needed form and electricity in the whole team.

As I said I don't think we can play 3 ruckman especially at Subiaco where you need runners and ball carriers. Playing 3 ruckman would be a death wish unless we play one of them in KP. If we bring in one ruckman we will need to drop a tall. The obvious choice on form for the last month is Bassett.

If we play 3 ruckman without dropping a tall we would have 8 talls ina side of 22 which would be way over the top.

 

[Bockchoy67]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
As I said I don't think we can play 3 ruckman especially at Subiaco where you need runners and ball carriers. Playing 3 ruckman would be a death wish unless we play one of them in KP. If we bring in one ruckman we will need to drop a tall. The obvious choice on form for the last month is Bassett.

If we play 3 ruckman without dropping a tall we would have 8 talls ina side of 22 which would be way over the top.

Definitely, having a lot of height is one thing, having a lack of pace is far worse.

If there's any tall we should drop for Hudson, it would be either Basset or Clarke/Biglands. Biglands is out of form (not to the margin of Basset though) but can do more ground work than Clarke.

At least Biglands could play Key position.

Obviously, one tall needs to go out for Hudson. Final. Too many talls, and we will be slow and rugged. Some needs to make room for Ben, but we will have to wait to see what happens.

My pick to be dropped is Basset, but only just.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Originally posted by Stiffy_18
As I said I don't think we can play 3 ruckman especially at Subiaco where you need runners and ball carriers. Playing 3 ruckman would be a death wish unless we play one of them in KP. If we bring in one ruckman we will need to drop a tall. The obvious choice on form for the last month is Bassett.

If we play 3 ruckman without dropping a tall we would have 8 talls ina side of 22 which would be way over the top.

Stiffy, you have turned...

Personally I would drop Clarke for Huddo. Sandilands will get most of the taps, so we don't need a spectator playing on the ground for the sake of it.

 

[Stiffy_18]

Originally posted by Kane McGoodwin
Stiffy, you have turned...

Personally I would drop Clarke for Huddo. Sandilands will get most of the taps, so we don't need a spectator playing on the ground for the sake of it.

Have I turned??????

I think we should reward form players. Now Bassett is more out of form than either Clarke or Biglands. Knowing that Gary is not affraid to play Biglands in KP, I wouldn't be surprised if Bassett gets dropped.

While I am not a big fan of Biglands as a KPP surely he can do well on someone like JLo.

 

[Kane McGoodwin]

Good luck to Huddo for his 1st game with the Crows. Hopefully he can encourage a few team-mates to follow his lead with his attack on the ball & 2nd/3rd efforts.