Fred Hughson

Who is Fred Hughson?

Fred Hughson was an Australian rules footballer who played for, captained, and later coached Fitzroy in the Victorian Football League. 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.