Fred Hughson
Encyclopedia
Fred Hughson was an Australian rules football
er who played for, captained, and later coached Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League
(VFL). He was the last person to lead Fitzroy to the premiership before their merger with the Brisbane Bears
, doing so in 1944 as both captain and coach.
He coached Fitzroy for 96 games between 1943 until his retirement in 1947, only two players coached the side more and his 103 games as captain was bettered by only three.
Hughson played as a fullback and was named in that position in Fitzroy's Team of the Century
. However, he did play up forward in his debut season in 1938, kicking 62 goals in 15 games topping the club's goalkicking charts. A long kicker of the ball, Hughson established the official and recognised world record for a drop kick at 89 feet 11 inches - at the halftime interval of a VFL game against South Melbourne at the Brunswick Street Oval.
He finished third in the 1941 Brownlow Medal and sixth in 1947; but the highlight of his career was undoutebly winning the 1944 Grand Final by 15 points over Richmond, as Captain-Coach.
After leaving Fitzroy he went on to play and coach South Warrnambool
.
Player honors:
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for, captained, and later coached Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL). He was the last person to lead Fitzroy to the premiership before their merger with the Brisbane Bears
Brisbane Bears
The Brisbane Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Bears was an Australian rules football club and the first Queensland-based club in the Victorian Football League . The club played its first match in 1987, but struggled on and off the field until it made the finals for the first time in 1995...
, doing so in 1944 as both captain and coach.
He coached Fitzroy for 96 games between 1943 until his retirement in 1947, only two players coached the side more and his 103 games as captain was bettered by only three.
Hughson played as a fullback and was named in that position in Fitzroy's Team of the Century
Team of the Century
Team of the Century and Team of the Decade are terms used in team sport to name a hypothetical best team over a given time period.For the century team, it can be either 100 years, or for a century...
. However, he did play up forward in his debut season in 1938, kicking 62 goals in 15 games topping the club's goalkicking charts. A long kicker of the ball, Hughson established the official and recognised world record for a drop kick at 89 feet 11 inches - at the halftime interval of a VFL game against South Melbourne at the Brunswick Street Oval.
He finished third in the 1941 Brownlow Medal and sixth in 1947; but the highlight of his career was undoutebly winning the 1944 Grand Final by 15 points over Richmond, as Captain-Coach.
After leaving Fitzroy he went on to play and coach South Warrnambool
South Warrnambool Football Club
The South Warrnambool Football Club are an Australian rules football club which compete in the Hampden Football League.They are based in the regional Victorian city of Warrnambool and have played in the Hampden Football League since 1933....
.
Career highlights
Playing career:- Fitzroy 1938 - 1947 (Games 164; Goals 95; BrownlowBrownlow MedalThe Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
votes 50)
Player honors:
- 3rd in Brownlow Medal: 1941.
- Fitzroy Best & Fairest: 1943.
- Fitzroy leading goalkicker: 1938.
- Fitzroy captain: 1943 to 1947.
- Fitzroy Team of the Century.
- Victorian representative: