Josh Thurgood
Hawthorn
AFL career
13 games1 goals
- Debut
- R1 2005 v SYD27 Mar 2005
- Most recent
- R14 2007 v ADE7 July 2007
Stats
Bio
One of the most unlikely physiques to ever grace an AFL field, Josh Thurgood became an instant cult hero at Hawthorn for his distinctive red dreadlocks and alarmingly slight frame. Plucked from the North Ballarat Rebels in the rookie draft, he was a courageous defender who attacked the contest with a reckless disregard for his own safety that belied his 70-kilogram playing weight. His career is best remembered for a sickening collision in 2005 where he backed into the path of Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd, suffering a fractured cheekbone from Lloyd’s controversial protective arm-guard—a moment that epitomised Thurgood’s bravery and fragility. Despite being delisted and then re-drafted by the Hawks as a show of faith in his character, his body ultimately struggled to cope with the physical demands of the elite level. He departed the game as a fan favourite who famously threw himself into contests he had no right to win, leaving a lasting impression that far exceeded his modest game tally.
Profile
- Born
- 05 June 1985 (age 41y 139d)
- Height
- 190 cm
- Weight
- 77 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionOne of the most unlikely physiques to ever grace an AFL field, Josh Thurgood became an instant cult hero at Hawthorn for his distinctive red dreadlocks and alarmingly slight frame. Plucked from the North Ballarat Rebels in the rookie draft, he was a courageous defender who attacked the contest with a reckless disregard for his own safety that belied his 70-kilogram playing weight. His career is best remembered for a sickening collision in 2005 where he backed into the path of Essendon captain Matthew Lloyd, suffering a fractured cheekbone from Lloyd’s controversial protective arm-guard—a moment that epitomised Thurgood’s bravery and fragility. Despite being delisted and then re-drafted by the Hawks as a show of faith in his character, his body ultimately struggled to cope with the physical demands of the elite level. He departed the game as a fan favourite who famously threw himself into contests he had no right to win, leaving a lasting impression that far exceeded his modest game tally.