Tasmanian AFL star finally gets a home game as Suns prepare to play Kangaroos in Hobart
Hugh Greenwood grew up 10km from Blundstone Arena and the Suns onballer will play his first AFL game there against the Kangaroos this weekend.
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TASMANIA’S favourite Sun Hugh Greenwood says it’s a dream come true to finally play an AFL game in his home town _ and so would having our own AFL team.
The basketball star turned AFL onballer arrived home with the Gold Coast Suns on a chartered flight on Friday ahead of their clash with North Melbourne at Blundstone Area.
It is a moment 29-year-old Greenwood, who grew up at Lauderdale about 10km from Blundstone, has waited for his whole career.
“You dream of playing at home in front of friends and family _ without them I wouldn’t be in the position I’m in today,” he said.
Although he plays for a team that many say jumped the queue for an AFL license, Greenwood backs Tasmania’s bid for its own team.
“Any athlete from Tasmania knows how proud we are to have come from Tassie and I know everyone around the state would get behind their own team,” he said.
“I’m pumped that the NBL has seen the potential in Tasmania and they’ve given the state a license and the JackJumpers are taking off in terms of memberships, publicity and interest.
“If the NBL and Tasmania can nail that, there’s no reason why the AFL shouldn’t put a stand-alone AFL club in Tasmania.
“It should definitely work.”
Greenwood, who played for Adelaide in the 2017 AFL grand final, has a daughter on the way next week to join 16-month-old son Titus.
He hopes wife Kirsten can make it though the weekend so he can be home in time for the new arrival.
“We had our check-up on Tuesday and they are confident our little girl will arrive next week, so I got the go-ahead to play,” Greenwood said.
“Kirsten knows how much this game means to me, so even if she went into labor I don’t think she’d tell me until after the game.
“Fingers crossed she arrives next week.”
The 191cm onballer has played every game this year but hardly ever in the same position.
“I was playing as a tall forward early on, and for a while I was playing second ruck, onball and I’ve been a key forward over the past couple of weeks.
“My role has been flexible _whatever Stuey [coach Stuart Dew] has asked me to do I’ve tried to go out and do it.
“The only place I haven’t been is back.
“I’ve played my best footy onball so we’ll see what happens this week.”
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