Hudghton, 33, retired from playing AFL football at the conclusion of the 2009 season after a stellar 234-game, 13-season career with the Saints.
He was renowned as one of the best defenders in the competition and will be a huge asset to the club’s talented, developing backline, which conceded the second-fewest points against during the 2009 home-and-away season behind only Hudghton’s former club.
Hudghton is excited to be joining Collingwood on a part-time basis.
“To be able to be involved in football to some extent, and particularly to work with Mick (Malthouse) and the Collingwood Football Club will be a big change, but it’s very exciting to be moving into a different environment, and move out of my comfort zone at St Kilda,” Hudghton told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“St Kilda people are fantastic people, but this is very exciting for me.
“I hadn’t really visualized any sort of coaching role for myself at all until this opportunity arose. I’ve got my own construction business, so I’m pretty deep into that at the moment.
“I just thought it was a really good role, to get involved with some of the young Collingwood defenders and influence their development.
“I’m aware of the players I’ll be working with and I’ve got a lot of respect for the way they play. Hopefully I can help them out in a really positive way, and be a source of knowledge if they want to tap into it.”
Collingwood senior coach Mick Malthouse said Hudghton brings some impressive traits to the club and will be an excellent resource for the young Magpie defenders.
“Max has played terrific football against all the key tall forwards in his career and has vast knowledge of them,” Malthouse told collingwoodfc.com.au.
“As he demonstrated to us, he’s able to articulate the way he played, and that’s important if you’re going to be a teacher.
“Through the conversations we’ve had with Max, I’ve been able to establish that he knows his trade, and he’s quite prepared and capable of passing his knowledge onto young players.”
Hudghton joins a coaching panel currently comprising Malthouse and assistant coaches Mark Neeld, Paul Hudson and Nathan Buckley. Luke Beveridge will continue as development manager in 2010, while Gavin Brown will coach the club's VFL team for a third season.
Neeld, who handled the defensive group in 2009, will look after the midfield in 2010, while Hudson moves from forwards to opposition and Buckley will take over as forwards coach in his first year as an assistant. The club has not yet finalised its assistant coaching panel.
The appointment of Hudghton comes after Brad Scott and Blake Caracella both resigned from their assistant coaching roles in recent months. Scott accepted the senior coaching job at North Melbourne while Caracella has joined Geelong as an assistant coach.
The club announced back in July that club great Buckley will come on board as an assistant for the 2010-11 seasons before taking over from Malthouse as senior coach from 2012-14. Malthouse will be director of coaching from 2012-14.
