Mike Sheahan opened his interview with renowned hard man, Des Tuddenham, with the question that would set the tone for the remainder of the interview.
“You were a tough bugger, weren’t ya?” he asked, already knowing the answer.
Yes, Tuddy was as tough as they come, and there were many who found themselves on the receiving end of his sharp elbows.
Tuddenham honed a brutal technique, taking the ball and clamping it to his chest, elbows jutting out like a bull’s horns, daring any tackler to take him on. Picture Jeremy Cameron’s pre-goal-kicking grip, but with Tuddy’s elbows, this was far more than a ritual.
It was created to inflict damage.
That he played for Collingwood was not reason enough to hate him for many supporters – Tuddenham took no prisoners on the field, but it is not often that someone can claim to be the villain for every club in the league.
Tuddy could, though. At one point, at least. And it occurred as a result of his departure from the Magpies, and his tenure as a Bomber.
He is the next in The Mongrel’s series on The Villains of the game.
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