Former New Norfolk superstar Peter Hudson, who kicked 727 AFL goals in 129 games between 1967 and 1977, is the subject of a proposed life-sized bronze statue in Arthur Square.

Led by New Norfolk Football Club president and former Derwent Valley mayor Nick Cracknell, the $70,000 project has garnered support from the state government, Hawthorn Football Club and several other businesses, but remains marginally short of its target.

Organisers hope the project's fundraising arm - recognising donors of $100 or more with a plaque on the wall behind the statue - will help raise the remaining funds.

"We're 90 per cent there, we just need that extra push to get us over the line," Cracknell said.

"I think he's worthy of recognition and Peter's obviously thrilled about the idea, he'd love to see it finalised."

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Cracknell said he hoped the statue, which is being made by Sydney artists Gillie and Marc, would be unveiled in July or August.

"As I travel round Australia you go to various towns and their sporting heroes are commemorated in some towns and they become tourist attractions - kind of like Darrel Baldock in Latrobe," he said.

"[Hudson] was born and bred in New Norfolk and he started playing football there at the age of 16 with the senior club. Before he went to Hawthorn he played three seasons and kicked 382 goals so he was already well on the way, but it was what he did when he left New Norfolk that we think needs [acknowledgement]."

Of any AFL player to have played 50 games, Hudson's average of 5.64 goals per game tops John Coleman's 5.48 (537 goals in 98 games) and Tony Lockett's 4.84 (1360 goals in 281 games).

For more details on the project email leongkemp@bigpond.com or nj.scracknell@bigpond.com

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