Assuming this is Greenwood and there's any truth to this story at all, if he's upset about having Mills, Delly, and Gibson picked over him.... well, good luck in the AFL.

If the contracts signed how is this possible without the wildcats allowing it, which would surely be unlikely...

have you ever forced a person to perform a duty when they don't want to do it?

Gibbo has been comfortably competent with each Boomers stint IMO.

Greenwood has been chased for a long time by the AFL and was a VG junior player. He is no where near ready for the Boomers so it might be a good decision.

That's because he only tries when he feels like it!

I somehow dont think Greenwood would run to the AFL just because he didnt make the Boomers once. Sounds like a crock to me.

Can't see it happening.

This rumor doesn't make sense at all. If he believes to be good enough to warrant an auto selection in the boomers then surely he would realize he would make more money playing basketball in Europe or making the NBA.

Hugh doesn't strike me as the kind of guy who would do something like this. I'm taking it with a grain of salt.

He didn't warrant selection in the Boomers team IMO. He isn't a true PG and you only have to look at his college stats to see he wasn't/isn't as good as what people think he is.

Very good at the junior level because he was very good at everything and a fantastic leader.

At the next level I don't see where he will be more than solid at any one thing. Needs to get a part of his game downpat

Don't know why Gliddon is picked.

I believe this is just a made up rumour..

As for someone commenting on afl players earning 400k that is not right in this situation. A good player might earn that.

A rookie would only be offered anywhere from 40-80k I believe . Teams can pay higher then that for a rookie but that is around the mark that gets paid.

A guy like greenwood would only have a shot at a 400k comtract in 2/3 or 4 years if they worked out and established themselves.

Greenwood could just as easily be earning above afl rookie contracts in the nbl , and in line for anywhere from 400k to 1mil+ overseas in 2-3 years.

I am confused why Lemanis picked Gliddon over Greenwood when you consider Greenwood would know the plays and he didn't even play Gliddon. I think that maybe Lemanis wasn't so very taken by Greenwood as a player?

GWB maybe he read your post that you would pick Gliddon over Exum :P

I stand by that comment. Potential is great if you actually use your attributes.

Unfortunately TRUE
Just confirmed by the Cats

Hugh Greenwood leaves Wildcats

Guard Hugh Greenwood has requested to be released from his contract with the Perth Wildcats to pursue an Australian Rules football career.

Greenwood informed the club this evening.

Wildcats managing director Nick Marvin said he was very disappointed to receive the news.

"Unfortunately Hugh Greenwood's decision not to honour his contract poses a significant challenge for us. Whilst he leaves with our best wishes, it does require us to revise our recruiting strategy immediately," he said.

“We made numerous decisions based on his commitment to us, so we are disappointed to lose him.

“However, the Wildcats family has always dealt well with adversity and this occasion will be no different.”

Hugh Greenwood was in the first month of a three-year contract with the Wildcats.

Subject to board approval, the Wildcats will allow him to breach his contract.

The club will hold a press conference tomorrow morning at the Bendat Basketball Centre.

Wildcats just sent out an email confirming Greenwood had requested his release in order to pursue AFL, and it will be granted pending board approval.

Just received that email from the wildcats , looks like the OP anon was spot on.

It was reported a while back, prior to his signing, that he was being looked at by a couple of AFL clubs.

The advantage is that they can add him as a B list Rookie, so basically a bonus.

It stings because the Cats seem to have done SFA about recruiting another guard, and don't have a lot of points to play with to secure two more players.

At this rate, Prather or Beal will have to play off the bench.

If we assume that he's not good enough to get a gig in Europe, then AFL is potentially much more lucrative.

After all the work he has put into basketball it is hard to see him just give it up like that.

This is really disappointing. There are not a lot of options left for the cats to sign a decent replacement.

How can you get picked up for AFL if you've
Been focused on Basketball

I spoke with a friend recently who has played with Greenwood & played for a while in the NBL. I said I was surprised Greenwood didn't get drafted, or even a gig in Europe. The friend's opinion was that he will be a good guard in the NBL.

Based on that assessment, I think Dazz is right - he's got more potential to make money in the AFL, since Europe is likely off the cards.

Disgraceful behaviour by Greenwood

OP delivered. Congrats.

His father played waterpolo (AIS) not AFL. His grandfather was a gun with Melbourne

Extremely unprofessional from Greenwood. I see he trained this morning. Feel for the Wildcats for once!

If he had of at least done it earlier the club could've signed someone - Rhys Carter was signed by Sydney yesterday!

I also wonder why he did it too.

Be interesting to see what Perth do.

Can't AFL develop their own players!?

Who's left out there to sign ?
Wonder if Jawai has ever played PG or SG lol

As an avid Oz Basketball fan it hurts to say this, but I reckon if a young guy in Greenwood's position (ie. NBA&Europe doors closed) has half a chance to play a game of footy on the MCG, it's worth the risk to change sports. He could always fall back on Basketball if it doesn't work out.

It's the most dedicated fans in the NBL vs one of Tasmanias favorite sons interesting to see how this plays out

Absolutely shocked.

To think that he made the All Star 5 at the FIBA U19 World Champs..guys like Valucuinas and Lamb in the NBA and he is giving up on the game.

Seems like he is throwing his toys out of the cot a bit..didn't make NBA, didn't get a Boomers invite so he thought bugger it I'm not going to dig deep and work hard to get to higher ceilings.

Is there a priviledge element coming through here - always got the best treatment and held in high regard - Emus, AIS, Tasmania - and hence he can't deal with not being "the man". Id say its awfully hard for a guy who was the man at Jnr levels to adjust to playing 3rd, 4th fiddle etc.

Awfully funny that he would say that the AFL basically sucks because it has no international concept yet he jumped at it straighy away.

MACDUB is was the 3rd fiddle at the Lobos for four years .....

Bit surprised it's taken him this long, tbh. There's been heavy rumour and speculation since 2013 about Hugh joining the AFL.

There's a bunch of talented basketballers we've lost to AFL over the years, Tom Cutler, Heath Shaw, Scott Pendlebury, Todd Goldstein, Tom Boyd, Dean Brogan, Jarryd Roughead and Terry Wallace although all made the jump earlier that Hugh.

Even Rhys Carter who was mentioned earlier in this thread, has played AFL reserves, I think for Werribee.

That being said, none of them have made the decision at 23 years of age and I don't think this will help him at all.

Yeah and by all accounts he struggled.

Few of these popping up

https://www.google.co.nz/url?sa=t&source=web&rct=j&url=http://www.rgj.com/story/sports/college/nevada/2015/02/24/mw-notebook-unms-greenwood-frustrated-teammates/23953693/&ved=0CC0QFjAFahUKEwjfi66L3rfHAhWi3KYKHYlqAYg&usg=AFQjCNFGs81iHD1agExt7j-_XXfBJ1ensA

"UNMS GREENWOOD FRUSTRATED WITH TEAMMATES"

I hope he crashes and burns. I think he is having a so ok because he didn't make the boomers team, and rather than just go through the necessary channels and development he chucks it in for the first thing that comes up - ridiculous. He might not even make more in the afl. Yes thrown it all in for a pipe dream and has wasted the wild cats time while doing it.

Yep call to Drake U'u

The players who usually succeed switching to Aussie rules from another sport (apart from Gaelic footy) are big guys who are in demand. It's much tougher for small-medium sized players, competing against so many good players who have been busting their balls getting better at the sport.

Pretty pisspoor to make a three-year commitment and then back out of it. Does't say much about his character.

Wonder if the Jason Holmes thing inspired him.

Absolute killer for the Cats. Had a nice backcourt trio locked in, not world-beating, but a good versatile mix. Now suddenly we're in deep shit.

Paul how about Pendlebury and Danyle Pearce?

"Pretty pisspoor to make a three-year commitment and then back out of it. Does't say much about his character."

It is.
I hope Chris Masten bites him for this.

the difference with Pendlebury and Pearce is the went to footy reasonably young while Greenwood has not played footy for a number of years. There have been a number of players that have not made it from basketball as well.

why didn't the Wildcats...include a no-out clause for AFL in his contract?

Might be a bit harsh on Perth but the fact that something like this can derail their plans says a lot about the efforts they made in building this years roster.

If a 3 point rookie is the player who you are basing recruiting decisions around maybe some of the blame should be apportioned to Wildcats management who have gone with an import who does not come with a pedigree that we have been come accustomed as well as persisting with an ageing injury prone core.

Time will tell and I hope I'm wrong but this could be the season that the Cats learn a lesson about taking short cuts

Short cuts? "Locking in" a young aussie with a very bright future, for 3 years, was one of the best off season signings in the league.
You're sounding pretty ignorant, Roger.

I was more referring to import signing and retention of Veteran players.

Probably didn't articulate it well but I feel like Greenwood should not be the fall guy for the Wildcats season the administration should wear the blame

I'm guessing that you base recruiting decisions around the pieces that are already locked in. Identify the remaining needs and fill them as best as possible.
I'd say the Cats have got a pretty respectable track record of recent rosters.
Not much they can do when the longest term locked-in piece of the puzzle disappears totally out of their control. I don't think it's unreasonable to have assumed that Hugh's contract, which I assume did not have an AFL out clause, would be honoured.

Roger, I think calling him a 3-point rookie is a little disingenuous. Had Bogut come to the NBL rather than entered the draft after college, he would've been a "3-point rookie" too.

This is a league where small decisions make a difference and this sort of issue can be enough to disrupt recruiting and put a team behind the eight ball.

Tragic.

Wish him all the best, but have to think that he'll regret it.

Was it Ben Richmond who was the last AIS kid to go to the AFL without playing a game as a pro? (Subsequently hasn't played an AFL game, last seen kicking around the VFL)

I'd be interested to know if the Cats can free up more points by renegotiating contracts for Martin and Redhage?

I don't know why U'U CHOSE to leave, but I'm also surprised they cut Ross without any replacement.

@ Roger, the problem is that regardless of being a 3 point player, Greenwood was seen as a BIG signing and an important part of the future. It was hard for them to chase anyone else, because it was assumed that Greenwood would be getting all the minutes he could backing up Martin AND Beal.

Mostly I am just peeved at the timing.
He should have made this choice a couple of months ago.

At this point, we really need to know how well Prather can play outside, becuase I didn't see much in his highlights.
Otherwise, when you look at who's potentially available, the Cats may need to scrap Prather for a Import PG or combo-guard, and sign an aussie big man for the front court.

I am still shocked by this to see he has actually done it.

Top guy, but gee wiz...

I would suggest to make a massive decision like this an AFL has all ready committed to him and he will be picked up under the alternate talent rule 11.1, will be added to an afl list between the afl grand final and October this year,

"Paul how about Pendlebury and Danyle Pearce?"

They both played footy fit through juniors. Greenwood has had a long break from the game. That's ok for athletic bigs who are a rarity in Aussie rules, but smaller guys are a dime a dozen so he's actually going to have to be an exceptional player to make it, not just an athlete, and the long break will make that hard.

I know who's throwing the toys out of the cot, you lot! Settle down he was never going to start for Perth. So you need a new back up guard, whoopee!
Grow a pair and move on.
And as for all the insults,I'm sure he cares what you whingers think..Laughable!

Perth were planning on making Greenwood the successor to Martin at PG. It will sting them this season but will be a huge pain in the future after Damo slows down.

"So you need a new back up guard, whoopee!"

Do you think you could deliberately downplay the entire situation any more?

Didn't Ricky Henderson play for Ballarat Miners and Josh Jenkins for Mount Gambier in SEABL.Stand to be corrected.

I get the feeling he was good at both growing up, but getting that AIS scholarship at 15 is too good of an offer to pass up. He's now maybe realised he's not quite as good as he was hoping he'd be so is going back to the spot he loves more?

Pretty bad to do it after making a committment to the Wildcats, but the heart wants what the heart wants

Absolute dog act by the kid.

"not going to dig deep and work hard to get to higher ceilings."

because AFL players get it so easy. Every week there are 31 in each team's squad that don't get to play in the first 22. In NBL there are half a dozen. AFL players get hit and tackled for a living. NBL players call for a foul when that happens. Yeah, he's not accepting a challenge at all.

Remember folks, the stereotypical career path for the modern generation is to make multiple career changes throughout their working life (2-3 changes is the contemporary normal). This guy's just made his first, after focusing on a basketball career for ~7 years.

He didn't handle this well with the Wildcats. That said, it's a bit of karma for their handling of cutting Muo to sign Ross, 4 weesk before the start of last season. "Professionalism" cuts both ways.

For those querying AFL's interest in recruiting players without AFL experience, there was a really interesting article on tv earlier this year about the annual AFL recruitment camps in the USA. They run testing sessions over a few days to test graduating college athletes from different sports. They focus on the ones who don't get into elite leagues and for whom the professional options in their chosen sport are limited or nil. The ones who test okay get invited to a subsequent camp and they do a little bit of footy-specific skill development and education about the game. Not sure where it goes from there.

He should of completed the season with Perth then asked to be released from his contract to pursue AFL. Leaving it this late to find a replacement is not a very honorable thing to do, I sure hope the club had not spent money ordering Hugh Greenwood merchandise.

The OP mentioned it had a lot to do with Gliddon being picked over him as a replacement which, if true, is a pretty sad reason to turn your back on the club and the sport.

I'm probably being a little bitter here also but it feels a little unethical for an AFL club to poach a player that they know is already contracted even if its from another code.

Anyways I hope it works out for him, I guess he feels he has made the best decision for himself and his future.

I wonder if the Cats might look at either Kenny or Eli from NZ ? They both looked decent against the boomers.

The West Australian have also confirmed he is heading to the Adelaide Crows.

"It is understood the 23-year-old will join the Adelaide Crows as a Category B rookie, allowing him to be accessed by the club immediately."

https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/29314873/greenwood-quits-cats-to-become-crow/

PeterJohn,

I was referring to the "higher ceilings of basketball". Not sport in general.

Sorry should have made that clearer.

I don't agree with the treatment of Muo or how he was cut, but didn't Perth pay out his contract ?

Muo would have been compensated, and its not like he was in high demand from other clubs. Greenwood has left the Cats in a very tough spot at this stage of the pre-season.

Kind of similar to the Cherry-Evans backflip.

That left GC in a similarly difficult position having passed on other players/let players go..and are now in a position where they have no adequate cover.

Muo was paid out. Have a problem with how late Greenwood has quit if he had of done it a month earlier or end of the season I wouldn't have as much of a issue.

On the one hand I feel that this is a great loss to basketball that I should be very sad about.

On the other hand, it screws my least favourite basketball team and possibly advantages my football team. What's not to like?

XY FTW!!! Can't argue with that logic!

No sympathy from me for the arrogant wildcats.
Best of luck to Hugh. If that is where his passion is then that is where he should go.

Actually he should take Matty Knight with him. Didn't he mention an interest in AFL?

Two quality posts there!

Nick Marvin fronts the press:
https://audioboom.com/boos/3489539-nick-marvin-press-conference-21-august-2015

Interesting comment here which makes his actions over being excluded from the boomers more sense.

"n November 2013, before his junior season at UNM began, Greenwood told the Journal his plan to return to the pitch one day.

"If I wasn't on their national radar (for basketball), I’d be off playing footy right now," Greenwood said. “My dream is to play in the Olympic Games and obviously that happens through the national team. If they weren’t still interested in me, I’d be playing Aussie rules footy.” "

http://www.abqjournal.com/631238/sports/former-lobo-greenwood-drops-hoops-to-pursue-aussie-rules-football.html

A shame yes, but Id prefer this happen now than 8 games into the season. He is late to the party to get into the AFL though, by his age he would normally already been in a team for a couple of years.

Would be interesting to see if we do try for Drake again.

I esp like the part about the 'Making sure he dosnt just pop up for MElbourne united next season'. Its possible Hugh could change his mind again, and this way the Wildcats make sure he either comes back to them or sits out of ball for a while.

Losing Mitch Creek to AFL would be a blessing in disguise for Adelaide.

Gaze on S.E.N. had some things to say about this, I haven't got the quotes but some of his points were interesting, going something like this.

1. Greenwood has moved for the money, don't be fooled into thinking it is anything else. (Well there are 2.5 billion reasons for this now I guess)

2. College athletes in the US will continue to be targeted by the AFL, because very few actually go on to pro sport careers, they get jobs but are A+ athletes compared with many Aussies here. (He has a point there).

3. Greenwood was touted as a decent footballer at the age of 15, he was probably always going down this track. (Appears this may be the case).

4. The NBL needs to be an open market, no salary or points limitations to compete. (This is interesting because it may lead us to losing teams before gaining in the long term, but is the NBL in a position to do this)?

Let's face it, the AFL is a juggernaut on the AUS sporting landscape and the NBL is only a small player at best in dollar terms, what can we do but ride this out and hope it provides some other baller an opportunity in his place...?

Greenwood could have a way longer career in bball than afl also. Most afl careers last 4 years on avg and even the high end players are cooked by age 30.

"He can always go back to basketball if the AFL doesn't work out. This would be is only shot at AFL though. Good luck to him."

Would an NBL team take him after this, though? Hugh might decide to go back to basketball, sign to a team, and then decide he was born in the wrong body and wants to be a woman.

I think the main assumption is right; it is a mixture of money, and the fact that his Olympic dream is unlikely at best.

4 years at $200,000

10 years at $150,000

Poor business decision IF he doesn't excel in the AFL

Brogan was the only notable to switch and he stuck more because he was 6'8

Totally agree an "open market" would not have solved this issue. Wildcats offered him what was his market value in the NBL.

Heck you could even argue what the Wildcats offered him is his market value worldwide (he could have gone to Europe but it would have been a lower league paying similar to what he would have got with Perth).

Sad if the move is financially drven as I presume the Wildcats deal would have been for $230k odd over the 3 years im guessing - not exactly peanuts lets be honest

Much as I am disappointed with the timing of this, maybe we should look at the inherent falsehoods that are foisted on young athletes. Promising young players are lured to US Colleges to play for free (in return for degrees in basket-weaving) based on the lure of the bright lights of the NBA. They probably have a better chance of becoming astronauts.
For every Bogut, there's a hundred Greenwoods, and for every Greenwood, a thousand discards we don't even hear about.

Much as I LOVE the NBL, you couldn't recommend it as a career, especially when there is doubt every year about its continued existence.
Greenwood would have got a RUDE shock when he went to rent a place to live in Perth. No wonder he has opted to join the Crows.

When you haven't got a job and something comes along you take it. If something better comes along you move on. Its a job for these guys and while its probably not the right thing to do no one seems to care too much when the clubs cut players that have years left on their contracts.

I know a couple for ex pro players and the way they see things is completely different to how we see things as fans..

Still, pretty shitty move.

"Brogan was the only notable to switch and he stuck more because he was 6'8"

The same reason he got a look at basketball at which he was sort of scrub like. Great decision on his part because his basketball career would have been lucky to support him.

Is Ben Dowdell still listed with an AFL team? Is he any good at it?

He made the switch straight out of college but unlike Greenwood I believe he had no AFL background.


As for Gaze's suggestion that an open market would keep players like Greenwood in the NBL, thankfully a few others on here have shown a much better understanding of the NBL and it's financial state than A Gaze has. Gaze's suggestion has about as much sense to it a Barlow's crap about the points cap a few seasons ago.

Kinda sick of people on social media saying "Aw but Hugh is a great humble bloke and is one of the nicest guys ever" etc.

Yes i know that. And i don't doubt that he is all of the above.

But that doesn't take away that what he has done is poor form and not a "good faith" practice.

He probably deserves a bit of stick (as long as its not over the top personal attacks as that is unnecessary)

"Luxford was a PG for Aussie under 17s, had never played footy apart from mucking around at school"

And he's an OK VFL player, nothing more at this stage.

I don't think people here are saying that Perth's season is over??

If anything I know a lot of smart people in this forum will realise that they could potentially get even better from this i.e Jawai & Kenny. If they can get Kenny re-rated to a 1 they would essentially get 2 extra points to get Jawai or the like.

The general consensus as I understand is that people know Perth are still going to be a helluva team.

Do fans have a right to be angry? YES. Very much so. More than fair enough.If it happened to your team you would be equally upset. Hell call me sensitive but I'm even cut up and angry about Ibekwe chosing United to chase bigger $ considering we gave him the key to open up his NBL door per se.

After stewing on this all day and being highly annoyed moreso because Greenwood was who excited me the most about my memberships this season I guess I've cooled down a bit and realized that Wildcats have a recent history of achilles injuries and had Hugh done that then he'd be out for the year and we would be back needing new players.

Sucks about the timing but no monies should be lost for this club (but it's not like the games will be any cheaper to attend)

@MACDUB, I certainly understand where your coming from but atleast Ibekwe's talent isn't lost upon us viewers all Greenwood changing sports

Greenwood is no Ibekwe!

Crawford didnt go to the last worlds, he went to the 2012 Olympics.

What does it say about the skill needed for football that they can just grab someone with athleticism from another sport and mould them into a player?

Yes, Greenwood played as a junior, but how long ago?

They are now trying to lure American college players over to play a game they've never ever seen before. Is it fair to say that football is a ridiculously simple game that doesn't take a lot of fundamental skill if you have the right natural gifts?

(I am actually asking the question - I don't overly watch the footy)

He thinks he is Moses now

@ GWB in regards to how easy Aussie Rules is to play ...

A decade ago teams wouldn't play skinny dudes because they felt they would struggle with the physicality

We have also seen them hate on shorter players regardless how good you are at winning the ball

These days they don't want to recruit you if you are slow....

Basically if you have height and a decent jump and good lateral movement then you will attract the AFL talent scouts. They also love that basketballers can understand the contexts of zones or man to man defence...

The rest they can mould into you...but sadly for afl if your not star at 23 then you'll highly unlikely ever be one and your basically cooked by 28 and by 30 the media want your head...

Compare all that to basketball and it wouldn't surprise me if an AFL star with a basketball background wins an AFL premiership and then chooses to play in the NBL in his 30's providing he gets a chance but if it was Pendlebury then I think he could be great at attracting sponsors and people to the game and speak very eloquently about the club, league etc

Good question mate

Oh and lastly the ruckman in the AFL is roughly 200cm and skinny as a bean pole and the club get him to put on size and by the time he gets to AFL standard he has the size to compete in ruck contests but literally has sfa agility... Compare that to your stereotypical small forward running around in the NBL who is also 200cm and is expected to be the third best rebounder, passer, outside shooter on the court...

I understand why an AFL club would atleast ask the question to basketballers far more than the rugby codes or soccer players

There's a lot of hate out there.

Well, it's Hugh's life and he should know what's best for him. Maybe the insecurity of the NBL bothered him. Also that fact the NBL clubs can & do cut players regardless if they have a contract & how long is left on it. At least that doesn't happen in the AFL. AFL clubs honour player contracts.

Anyhow, good luck to him. Hope he makes it.

As for poster above^, I think you'll find games at any AFL team accumulate. That is why it is games played, not games played at one club.

^^ I wonder if you'd say that about his Mum if your Mum, Grand Mother, Aunt, sister, etc had Breast Cancer or had died from breast cancer! You're a Knob!

Hey Anon, you're hurtful words and personal opinion of Hugh are a disgrace. This forum is about basketball. For personal reasons it is obvious Hugh made a tough decision and a life decision on a sport he left home for at 14yo and has committed to for 10years 24/7. This is nothing about his choice of religion, nothing about the 100k he has voluntarily raised for Cancer Research in the USA, nothing about his dying mother's secondary cancer battle. You know nothing...you brave little anon keyboard warrior. Hugh has more integrity and respect than you can only dream of...but to know that you will need to crawl back into your hole and do a little research...."basketball" that is.

More than a few years back there was a tall clumsy kid playing basketball in Dampier.
His Uncle suggested he come down to Perth and try AFL. Fortunately the uncle had friends in the football world an convinced the Eagles to take a punt on his nephew with their 2nd pick in the ROOKIE draft.

Dean Cox went on to play a record 290 games, revolutionised the role of the modern ruckman, picked up a premiership and several AA's along the way.

I'm NOT fan of trying to convert players to AFL, but most Aussie kids grow up kicking a footy.

His heart wasn't in it, so no, he shouldn't have stuck with hoops.

^^ that's fine and I respect for him for that. But lets not make it about money yet. People don't understand our AFL is just not an international game. Australia is a very small sporting country as a far as athlete salary goes, likewise for the AFL.