Hudson brings significant AFL experience to the Lions, having played a total of 142 AFL games across eight seasons with Adelaide (55 games from 2004-2007) and the Western Bulldogs (87 games from 2008-2011).
After playing the bulk of his junior football with Mt Gravatt in Queensland, Hudson didn’t get his first opportunity to play senior football until he was 25.
But he quickly established himself as one of the most competitive big men in the AFL who was effective both in the ruck and around the ground.
In 2010, Hudson produced arguably the best football of his career, finishing 6th in the Bulldogs’ Best and Fairest award, ranking 7th in the AFL for hard ball gets and winning the inaugural Brad Johnson Medal as the Bulldogs’ Best Club Man.
The 32 year-old eventually hung up the boots at the end of 2011after another productive season which saw him average a career-best 16.8 disposals and 22.5 hitouts per game across 16 matches.
Lions National Talent Manager Rob Kerr said Hudson would prove a valuable short-term acquisition for the Club's ruck department.
"We needed to find someone who could provide immediate support for Matthew Leuenberger and, at the same time, we want to be able to ensure that in the years ahead there is room for a young ruckman. Ben seemed to fit that bill perfectly."
"He has had significant experience at AFL level, is a natural competitor and widely regarded as a quality person."
"At 32 years old, Ben's body is still in good shape which could be a result of the fact he was a relatively late bloomer who never started playing AFL until he was 25.”
