Former Bulldog Josh Prudden joins Collegians in VAFA

VAFA premier power Collegians lands a quality recruit as it prepares for the 2021 season.

Josh Prudden getting busy for the Dogs in 2015.

It might take a while for Josh Prudden to start feeling at home in the VAFA.

He’s known only one club for the past eight seasons, the Western Bulldogs.

And he admits he found it difficult to leave the Whitten Oval and join Collegians.

“It’s a bit of a strange feeling to be changing footy clubs,’’ he said.

“A bit weird and I’m not all that comfortable. I don’t think I’m much of an extrovert. But that’s all right. I enjoy meeting new people and a new challenge, so I’m looking forward to it.’’

Drafted in 2012 after playing for the Murray Bushrangers and his home club, Seymour, Prudden had four AFL games, all in 2015. He’s grateful he saw football at its highest level.

But there’s no doubt the left-foot midfielder would have played more matches if not for injuries.

The most serious was an ACL in 2016. A week later Dogs captain Bob Murphy suffered the same fate.

“I was lucky enough to do rehab the whole way through with him,’’ he said. “We basically had the same program. That helped get through it.’’

Josh Prudden battling it out with Darcy Moore in 2015.

He also had a shoulder reconstruction.

“I was lucky to have played a few games,’’ Prudden said. “It’s never enough for any athlete ever, I don’t think. You always want to get more than you’ve got. But that’s all right. I don’t think the body was quite up to it.

“I definitely don’t take those games for granted. Really happy that my grandparents got to see me play as well.’’

Delisted at the end of 2017, Prudden chose to stay with the Bulldogs as a VFL player, reflecting his enjoyment of the club and the friendships he’d made.

He was co-captain of Footscray with Angus Monfries in 2018 and captain in 2019-2020.

“We’ve had a pretty strong group of VFL boys in between the ages of 21 and 25 who had stuck around for a few years … we had a good culture down there … and a lot of them are sticking on for next year, so it was a pretty tough decision to move on,’’ Prudden said.

“But it’s my time. I’m 26, 27 next year. I have to start looking at more post-footy stuff.’’

When he phoned coach Jordan Russell two weeks ago to inform him he was going to the amateurs, Russell shared the news he was departing too, to North Melbourne’s coaching team.

“We both ended up congratulating each other,’’ he said.

Prudden attended Assumption College but established a link with Collegians when he began coaching the Year 10 football team three years ago.

His Bulldogs teammate Anthony Bruhn, the former head of sport at Wesley, got him involved.

He’s also an assistant coach of a cricket team this season. Prudden finishes his teaching degree next week.

He’ll be one of a few new faces at Collegians in 2021, starting with coach and former Melbourne and Geelong defender Jared Rivers and his assistants Jordie McKenzie and John Meesen.

Former Essendon and Coburg VFL-listed half-back/wingman Eammon Ogden has joined the Lions, and they’ve also gained Hugh Johnson (Port Melbourne VFL) and Nick Hogan (North Melbourne VFL) as full-time players.

In another positive, big man Callum Post is back after recovering from a knee injury.

Prudden said he had seen a few VAFA games – a few Footscray VFL players have St Kevin’s as their home club – and was impressed by the standard.

“You’re not going to walk in and expect to dominate, that’s for sure,’’ he said.

“Hopefully I can get in a bit of work and play my part when the season starts.’’