History will show that he played only 18 senior matches with the Lions - accounting for just 11% of his career tally - but his contribution to the Club will be remembered for being so much more.
Upon announcing his ‘first’ retirement from AFL football at the end of 2011, Hudson had originally planned to return back home with his family to the Gold Coast to begin life after football.
But the Lions, whose ruck stocks were wearing drastically thin, sought out the former Western Bulldog and persuaded him to go around for one more year.
After all, he was headed to Queensland anyway…
Hudson agreed to an extra season, after being advised that his role would be largely to support ruckman Matthew Leuenberger and provide some much-needed experience to the Lions’ young and developing list.
However, as it turned out, a season-ending injury to Leuenberger in Round 3 meant Hudson was forced to shoulder the team’s ruck load for the majority of the season.
And he did so with aplomb, averaging 14.8 disposals and 25 hitouts per game. Hudson also ranked fourth at the Club in centre clearances - behind Jack Redden, Tom Rockliff and Daniel Rich - with 83.
Even though he was the oldest player on the Lions’ list, his battle-wearied body simply refused to give in.
By season’s end, he had earned cult status among the Gabba faithful for his determined nature, genuine competitive instincts, and trademark beard.
Hudson’s swansong AFL season also helped him reach 150 games, and produced his first ever Brownlow Medal votes - both of which were important milestones that would have eluded him had he decided against a return.
It wasn’t until the Lions acquired 25 year-old big man Stefan Martin in the recent AFL Trade Period that Hudson felt he could comfortably hang up the boots for a second time.
He had almost single-handedly held the Lions’ ruck division together throughout 2012, but with Leuenberger returning, Martin arriving, and Billy Longer maturing, the cavalry had finally arrived.
Hudson can now finally enjoy those spoils of retirement with his family that he had put on hold at this time last year.
And unlike John Farnham, he vows that this truly is the ‘last time’.
