AFL star Hugh Greenwood reflects on NBL past

He was the next big thing in Tasmanian basketball having broken into the Boomers squad and embarked on a four-year scholarship at the University of New Mexico that would end with a contract to play in the NBL with Perth Wildcats.

However, the talented Hobart sportsman returned to Launceston on Saturday as a fully-fledged AFL player, with a grand final to his name and supporting the team he played for as a junior.

“It’s a little bit surreal to be back here,” said the 26-year-old ahead of his old team Lauderdale’s State League grand final against North Launceston.

“It’s crazy to think about what’s happened over the last couple of years but I’m very pleased to be where I am now.”

Greenwood’s career path took a hairpin turn in 2015 when, two days out from his first Wildcats practice match, he decided instead to pursue footy and – in a jump of Israel Folau proportions – swapped the NBL for the AFL by joining Adelaide Crows at pick 48 in the rookie draft.

“To throw a 10-year basketball career away was a lot tougher than I thought and I took a while to get used to it,” he said.

“My first year was terrible but eventually I got a hang of it and things started to fall into place.”

Greenwood said it was “awkward” breaking the news to the Wildcats, but he has no regrets.

“It did not end very well. But while disappointed, the club were supportive and ended up winning back-to-back championships so it worked out well for both of us.”

Having played junior footy with future AFL graduates Jacob Gillbee and Josh Green, Greenwood was also pursuing a family tradition after his grandfather Peter Marquis played 99 games and won three premierships with Melbourne.

Fresh back from an end-of-season trip to Fiji, Greenwood is eager to add to his 23 senior AFL games. 

“We fell very short of where we wanted to be and it was a very disappointing year for us. We know our best footy is good enough and our list is as good as any in the AFL, but the game evolves.”