Peter Hudson

Hudson's arrival in the VFL came at a period when full-forwards were beginning to experience a resurgence, most notable being Doug Wade of and Peter McKenna of . After sitting out the first game of 1967, as he didn't meet the league's residential requirements, Hudson's first game was against . Lining up against rugged full-back Wes Lofts, he managed to kick four goals. In 1971, he equalled Bob Pratt's record of 150 goals in a season after kicking three goals in Hawthorn's winning Grand Final side. Hudson kicked into the man-on-the-mark Barry Lawrence (St Kilda) in one of his attempts to break the record during the grand final. In the first round of 1972, he seriously injured his knee just before half time. He had already kicked 8 goals and had just taken a mark within distance when he fell awkwardly. It was thought that his career had finished. On 25 August 1973 he returned from Tasmania to kick eight goals against Collingwood at VFL Park. After playing Rounds 1 and 2 in 1974, he again injured his knee and returned to Tasmania. Later that year, after hurting his knee playing netball, he decided to have knee surgery in the summer. He did not play another VFL game until lured back for the 1977 season, during which he kicked 110 goals for the season. ==Post-playing career==

Hudson supported the planned merger between and in 1996. ==VFL statistics==

: ==Honours and achievements==

Team • VFL Premiership player (): 1971 • Minor premiership (): 1971 • TANFL Premiership player (Glenorchy): 1975 Individual • 4× Coleman Medal: 1968, 1970, 1971, 1977 • 2× J.J. Dennis Memorial Trophy: 1968, 1970 • 6× Hawthorn leading goalkicker: 1967, 1968, 1969, 1970, 1971, 1977 • 2× All-Australian team: 1966, 1969 • 2× William Leitch Medal: 1978, 1979 • New Norfolk best and fairest: 1965 • 3× Glenorchy best and fairest: 1976, 1978, 1979 • 8× TFL leading goalkicker: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966, 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 • 4× New Norfolk leading goalkicker: 1963, 1964, 1965, 1966 • 4× Glenorchy leading goalkicker: 1975, 1976, 1978, 1979 • Australian Football Hall of Fame – Legend status • Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame Icon • Hawthorn Hall of Fame – Legend status • Hawthorn Team of the Century • Tasmanian Team of the Century • Hawthorn life member == Post-VFL career ==

Hudson coached and played for Glenorchy Football Club in the TFL in 1975 and 1976, taking them to a premiership in his first year. Following his second return from the VFL, in 1978 he once again played for Glenorchy, kicking 153 goals and winning the highest individual honour in the TFL, the William Leitch Medal. In the next season he again topped the goalkicking with 179 goals, winning his second William Leitch medal. He retired as a player at the end of the season. He coached Hobart in the TFL in 1986–1987 for consecutive unsuccessful finals campaigns. In 1979, he was made a Member of the Order of Australia (AM) in the Australia Day Honours, for services to Australian football. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and elevated to "Legend" status in 1999. His citation reads: "''A freakish full-forward who just kept accumulating goals. Made brilliant use of the body, was deadly accurate and had an amazing ability to read the play. Holds the best goals per game average (5.59) in VFL/AFL history and in 1971 matched Bob Pratt's record for most goals in a season with 150.''" Hudson is well respected for his business acumen. Since retirement he has had a stint as the Chief Executive Officer at Hawthorn and St Kilda. Currently he is a senior executive of insurance giant Bupa. Hudson was inducted into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame in 2001. Hudson is depicted in a Tasmanian state guernsey taking a mark against South Australia in Jamie Cooper's painting The Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport. In 2010, Hudson became the eleventh player to feature in a Toyota Memorable Moments advertisement with Stephen Curry and Dave Lawson, comically re-enacting his unsuccessful attempt to break Bob Pratt's season goalkicking record in the 1971 VFL Grand Final. ==Family==

His son Paul also played for the Hawthorn Football Club, Western Bulldogs 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. == See also ==