Gold Coast enforcer ‘can’t wait’ to be involved in some capacity with Tasmanian NBL team

Hugh Greenwood has just completed an outstanding debut season with the Gold Coast Suns where he is firmly in the mix for the best and fairest. However the door isn’t shut on his first sport. LISTEN TO THE PODCAST + WATCH THE INTERVIEW >>

Hugh Greenwood of the Suns kicks the ball past James Cousins of the Hawks during the 2020 AFL Round 18 match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Gold Coast Suns at Adelaide Oval on September 20, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Matt Turner/AFL Photos via Getty Images)

• Basketball dream still flickers for Greenwood

GOLD Coast midfield bull Hugh Greenwood has reiterated his desire to return to basketball post his AFL career and is hopeful of being involved in Tasmania’s re-entry to the NBL in “some capacity”.

Coming off an outstanding debut season with the Suns, the 28-year-old has also revealed he will look to take the first steps in re-entering the basketball world during the AFL off-season.

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Speaking on fellow Tasmanian Adam Gibson’s ‘Gibbo Goes One-On-One podcast’, Greenwood refused to rule out completing a full circle and returning to basketball after he sensationally walked out on a deal with the Perth Wildcats five years ago to join the Adelaide Crows.

Perth Wildcats unveil new recruit Hugh Greenwood in 2015.

“My dream post-footy is to get back into basketball in some capacity, whether it was playing or coaching,” Greenwood said.

“I can’t wait to be involved [with Team Tasmania], hopefully in some capacity, I will do all I can to drive it and pump it up until the team finally comes in.

“This hopefully will be a pathway for me and things can go from there, I’m certainly not ruling it out.

“I would love to [play basketball again] … but the standard is no joke. I don’t know if I can just go from not playing for an amount of years to going and playing at NBL level.

“I would have to put a fair bit of time in, but it’s not like I have been sitting on the couch and sipping beers for the last five years, I am probably the fittest I have been.

“Granted it is a different fitness.”

Hugh Greenwood of the New Mexico Lobos looks to pass against the UNLV Rebels during their game at the Thomas & Mack Center on January 21, 2015 in Las Vegas, Nevada. New Mexico won 71-69. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

The lure of returning to his home state has always been strong for Greenwood, with an NBL franchise now only adding to the pull when he calls time on his AFL career.

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That will likely now be at least three years away after a superb campaign for the Suns which will see him in contention for the club’s best and fairest award.

Greenwood led the league in tackles (117), finished second in pressure acts and fourth in clearances and contested possessions, vindicating his decision to leave the Crows to sign a long term deal with Gold Coast.

Hugh Greenwood of the Suns celebrates a goal during the round 18 AFL match between the Hawthorn Hawks and the Gold Coast Titans at Adelaide Oval on September 20, 2020 in Adelaide, Australia. (Photo by Mark Brake/Getty Images)

However the itch of picking up the round ball is flickering and the former Boomer is hopeful of heading up the Pacific Motorway over summer and joining the Brisbane Bullets – who signed another Tasmanian Tanner Krebs for this year’s season.

“I will start to get the ball in the hands a little bit more than I have been, hopefully might sneak up to Brisbane in the off season and see where I can join in with those guys, trying to put that into motion just to stay involved,” Greenwood said.

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