Hudson

[Qsaint]

Hes nearly 30 but is it worth trying to get him for the Ruck? Worth a second round Pick? Seems their will be a few around

 

[sackers5]

I have a funny feeling that Ross Lyon will target him heavily, seems the kind of ruckman that he likes - strong presence around stoppages, more so than a follower type ruckman who picks up a lot of possessions. Have read that Hudson has already stated he wants to go to the Dogs which could make it difficlut and if he goes into the PSD we are no chance.

 

[Inside Goss]

I'm sure St. Kilda will consider him, does the Bulldogs link have anything to do with the fact he came from werribee? as the Bulldogs and WErribee have now split alignment.

 

[pinkcrows]

Hudson for watts???

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Get him. Second round pick should be enough. He is a very good ruckman and would suit us very well. He doesn't win a huge amount of hitouts, but the ones he does win he directs very well. A guy like Sandilands or Simmonds will get his 25 hitouts and 2 to advantage. Hudson will get 18 and 5 to advantage.

Hudson is also good around the ground. He isn't your freakish giant midfielder like Cox, but he takes plenty of marks, has a physical presence and has good skills.

 

[HoldenMCaulfield]

I am not too impressed with Hudson's attitude:

Adelaide gave him a chance to play AFL footy (out of nowhere), sticked with him through a very long injury - he doesn't appear very grateful with his excessive demands for a new contract !

He was one of the players sidelined by the club after having been caught out in town after the curfew set by the club.

Gardiner and van Rheenen should hopefully be ready next year and Koschitzke and Blake can also spend time in the ruck.

If we can get a real top ruckman (e.g. Jolly) or a promising draft pick (obviously not necessarily Kreuzer himself), I would give away second round pick or more (for we don't know if Gardiner will find his form again and Koschitzke should be FF instead) - but not for someone like Hudson who is almost 30, too !

 

[goodie23]

I am not too impressed with Hudson's attitude:

Adelaide gave him a chance to play AFL footy (out of nowhere), sticked with him through a very long injury - he doesn't appear very grateful with his excessive demands for a new contract !

He was one of the players sidelined by the club after having been caught out in town after the curfew set by the club.

Gardiner and van Rheenen should hopefully be ready next year and Koschitzke and Blake can also spend time in the ruck.

If we can get a real top ruckman (e.g. Jolly) or a promising draft pick (obviously not necessarily Kreuzer himself), I would give away second round pick or more (for we don't know if Gardiner will find his form again and Koschitzke should be FF instead) - but not for someone like Hudson who is almost 30, too !

Don't think van Reehan's ready yet, he's still a bit green. I think he'll be rookie listed again.

Hudson would be a decent pick-up, but the question is the dollars. I wouldn't mind us giving him a two or maybe even three year contract, have him and Gardiner ruck while van Reehan and the ruck we're likely to draft this year develop, but the cost is a concern, especially with all the re-signings this year.

 

[ChrisFooty]

Don't think van Reehan's ready yet, he's still a bit green. I think he'll be rookie listed again.

Hudson would be a decent pick-up, but the question is the dollars. I wouldn't mind us giving him a two or maybe even three year contract, have him and Gardiner ruck while van Reehan and the ruck we're likely to draft this year develop, but the cost is a concern, especially with all the re-signings this year.

We should have cap space. Few retirements, should be alright. If not, make Hamil retire after Nov (apparently this won't count in our salary cap) I might be wrong here, but i can't see Hamil ever playing again.

 

[goodie23]

We should have cap space. Few retirements, should be alright. If not, make Hamil retire after Nov (apparently this won't count in our salary cap) I might be wrong here, but i can't see Hamil ever playing again.

We've had a few retirements, but also re-signed Kosi, Dal, Big Fish and Fiora with Clarke, Baker and Maguire still to come. It's been an expensive year, worth it to keep our young talent at the club of course.

It would be nice if we could re-negotiate Hamill's deal, but to the best of my admittedly fairly limited knowledge, we'll have to pay out his hefty last year's salary whether he plays or not. An expensive lesson in long-term, back-ended contracts.

 

[mad-saint-guy]

Gardiner and van Rheenen should hopefully be ready next year and Koschitzke and Blake can also spend time in the ruck.

Van Rheenen wasn't named in the best ONCE either in the Casey seniors or reserves this year...and you think he will be ready to play regular AFL footy in 2008...I think you're wrong.

VR would be behind Gardiner, Koschitzke, Brooks, Blake, Rix and Watts as far as rucking goes, while his skills are nowhere near AFL standard. The chances are that he won't make it, but he will be given at least one more year to show some improvement and hopefully develop into a long-term player for us.

The only players we have on the list capable of doing a decent job as the number one ruckman are Gardiner and Kosi. Gardiner because of his tap-work, strength and experience. Kosi because of his mobility, skills at ground level and agression. Neither are particularly good options, but they can do the job.

I would be very, very surprised if we don't come out of trade week with an experienced ruckman. We should heavily target Hudson, Lade and Jolly, while we may resort to getting King or McDonald.