Round 17 meeting sealed Hugh’s fate

DEPARTING Crow Hugh Greenwood has revealed he met with Gold Coast coach Stuart Dew in Round 17 and spoke with Brisbane and Hawthorn even earlier as he navigated a long-term deal away from Adelaide.

The midfielder/forward who has spearheaded News Corp’s The Lowdown Podcast this season has described his trade to the Suns as “bittersweet” but long-term job security and more opportunities on game day was too good to ignore.

“We are obviously disappointed to be leaving and upset our time in Adelaide has come to an end but at the same time we are excited about our next chapter and the direction the Gold Coast Footy Club is heading,” he told The Lowdown.

“I didn’t commit to the Gold Coast until I was in the States, so after the season finished.

“The messaging for the (Crows) all year was they were only willing to do two years ... so when that was the case and when I was in and out of the side despite feeling like I was playing all right footy it became a bit of a no-brainer (to look elsewhere).”

While the Hawks and Lions were options, Greenwood said he and his pregnant partner Kirsten couldn’t picture themselves living in Melbourne and he had strong relationships with Gold Coast assistants Josh Francou and Tate Kaesler.

“We played them (Gold Coast) late in the year and that was a chance to have a chat, we were up there for four days and I had the chance to catch up with him (Dew) and I’ve always kept in contact with Tate,” Greenwood said.

“I caught up with Brisbane and Hawthorn a little bit earlier.

“But once I caught up with Gold Coast I was like ‘yep, this is the place I want to go to’.”