Stats
Playing Career
1938-1947 – Fitzroy
Games
164
Goals
95
Playing Honours
Fitzroy Best & Fairest – 1943
Fitzroy Premiership Captain – 1944
Fitzroy Captain – 1942-47
Fitzroy Leading Goal Kicker – 1938
Fitzroy Team of the Century
Lions Life Member
Fitzroy Greatest Team (1944-93)
Victorian State Captain – 1945
Victorian State Representative (twice)
Coaching Career
1943-1947 – Fitzroy
Games Coached
96
Coaching Honours
Fitzroy Premiership Coach – 1944
Summary:
Despite beginning his career as a forward, Fred Hughson is today widely regarded as one of the best full-backs of his time.
The Preston recruit burst onto the VFL scene with a Club-high 62 goals in his first season at Fitzroy, only to be moved to full-back two years later by coach Dan Minogue.
Hughson later admitted to being 'horrified by the thought', but soon found his niche in defence.
He engendered such loyalty from his team-mates that he was appointed Captain/Coach in 1943, and won the Club’s Best & Fairest in that same year.
But Hughson's greatest achievement came the following year, when he guided his team towards the 1944 VFL Premiership. It would prove Fitzroy’s last ever Grand Final triumph.
