Peter Hudson

Peter Hudson

Peter John Hudson (born 19 February 1946) is a former Australian rules football player, considered one of the greatest full-forwards in the game's history.

Hudson was prolific in his goal scoring in all senior competitions in which he competed. Originally from Tasmania, Hudson played with New Norfolk Football Club, in the Tasmanian Football League kicking 378 goals in 78 games. He then played 130 games with the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League). During this time he kicked 727 goals. Following his Hawthorn days he returned to Tasmania, playing a further 81 games for Glenorchy Football Club during which he kicked an amazing 616 goals. Some records state he actually kicked 769 goals for Glenorchy Football Club (the inaccuracy stems from the TANFL including goals scored in Intrastate and Interstate matches involving the TANFL and Tasmania as part of TANFL records at the time).

Over his career he kicked 1,874 goals in senior matches spanning the period of 1963 to his final match in the 1981 TANFL Preliminary Final for Glenorchy, where Hudson, who had made a brief comeback with two rounds remaining booted 30 goals in three matches (including 6 in his team's Preliminary Final loss to New Norfolk).

His impressive tally increases to 2,191 when night series and representative games are included, averaging over 7 goals a game over his entire career. Hudson was kept goalless just three times during his senior career, by Richmond's Barry Richardson in 1969, Carlton's Rod Austin in 1977 and Bruce Greenhill of TFL club Sandy Bay in 1978.

Hudson's ability to win the ball was hard to pinpoint. There were times he seemed to gain possession of the ball ever so quietly and with consistent, nonchalant ease his tally of goals for the game would gradually climb. Among his armoury of skills, he seemed to have the ability to quietly sneak away from the opposition attendant full-back. Before the frustrated backman knew it, Hudson had taken a nice comfortable mark on his chest for a simple goal.

His son Paul also played for the Hawthorn Football Club, Western Bulldogs Football Club and Richmond Football Club, and nephew Simon Minton-Connell also played AFL football for the Carlton Football Club, Sydney Swans, Hawthorn Football Club and Western Bulldogs Football Club.