Australian Football

Over the course of his decade long career Les Hughson enjoyed the distinction of playing for no fewer than five VFL clubs, plus one from the VFA. Admittedly, the majority of his league stints were mere cameos, but the fact that he was an accomplished footballer was undeniable. Tall and strongly built at 188cm and 88kg, there was a touch of ferocity to his play, but he seldom transgressed, and his capacity for hard work was impressive.

Hughson made his senior league debut in 1927 with Collingwood, but that single appearance represented the sum total of his Magpies career. A mere four game stint at Hawthorn in 1928 followed, but after crossing to Preston in the VFA his career began to blossom. Deployed as a follower and forward, he played 34 games and scored 33 goals from 1931 to 1933, whilst making it abundantly clear that he had few peers in the competition. Confidence duly enhanced by this experience, he resumed his elite level career in 1933 with Carlton, where he played 12 games and kicked seven goals in one and a half seasons. Midway through the 1934 season he crossed to St Kilda, where he produced the best and most consistent football of his career, adding 41 VFL games and 45 goals over a two and a half season stint. His final sojourn came in 1937 when he joined his brothers Fred and Mick at Fitzroy, and continued to produce some fine football over 15 appearances which saw him bag 12 goals.

Author - John Devaney