EFNL 2024: Norwood vice-captain Blair Hudson among package of Heathmont recruits

A Premier Division vice-captain is the latest big signing at Heathmont, among a swag of key names returning to the club.

Norwood vice-captain Blair Hudson is among a package of recruits at Heathmont. Picture: Davis Harrigan

It’s another top-division signing among a package of recruits at Heathmont.

The Division 2 club made a splash last month when it unveiled Doncaster East co-captain James Appleby as a prized pick-up – and now it has snared Norwood vice-captain Blair Hudson.

Hudson played more than 100 games for the Norsemen in Premier Division, plying his trade mostly as a defender.

He’s joined by a swag of names returning to the club, including versatile tall Lachie Sverns (Leitchville Gunbower, Heathcote FL), dashing half-back and past best and fairest Wade Van Leeuwen, former captain Tom Rourke (Noosa Tigers) and key forward Jed Hansen (Blackburn).

Heathmont senior coach Scott Hamill said an existing connection to a line of ex-Norwood players at the club helped secure Hudson, who was set to inject versatility and pace.

“We’ve also got a core group of guys who are Heathmont players that went to school with all the (Norwood) guys, so living in the area, you draw a lot of your recruiting on your current list of players to give you the connections,” he said.

“He’ll be a versatile utility for us. He will supply us with a lot of run and carry, he’s quite tall as well, and he’ll complement the other recruits we’ve got.

“We’ve started to build a very healthy, strong and deep list which is what we’re going to need to compete in the division.”

Hamill said Sverns had been on the club’s radar for a return and was set to play forward and ruck next season.

The returning contingent will also provide the Jets some room to move in the player points cap.

“We’ve probably been after Lachie Sverns to come back for a couple of years now, he’s been playing up in Bendigo and he’s best mates with a lot of guys at the club,” Hamill said.

“It’s fantastic to get these club people back at Heathmont – and get these one-pointers back as well.”

Heathmont slid down the ladder this year, missing the finals with a 7-11 record after contesting the decider in 2023.

It won just one of its first seven matches this season before saluting in six of its last 11.

The coach declared a return to finals was on the radar in 2025.

“We were fairly disappointed with where we finished up (seventh) … but it was pleasing to come back from where we were,” Hamill said.

“The anticipation and expectation for us is to be back playing finals.”