Australian Football

An adopted Queenslander, the tough and redoutable Max Hudghton forged a wonderful 234-game AFL career with St.Kilda after playing in the 1996 West Brisbane AFLQ premiership side as a 20-year-old. That Bulldogs premiership remains one of his career highlights, as unfortunately for the big key defender he wasn't able to achieve likewise for the Saints. A resolute and ever-competitive defender, he became the eighth Queenslander behind Jason Dunstall, Gavin Crosisca, Scott McIvor, Marcus Ashcroft, Michael Voss, Jason Akermanis and Mal Michael to post his AFL double century in 2007.

Born in Melbourne, Hudghton played with Diamond Creek and the Northern Knights U18 side before moving north with his family. He was surprisingly drafted by St.Kilda at No.15 in the 1996 AFL draft, and in his first season played 17 senior games including the grand final, when the Saints were overran by the Adelaide Crows. Denied a probable Victorian jumper by injury in 1998, he was a permanent fixture in the Saints defence over 13 seasons, which included representing Australia in the International Rules series against Ireland in 2004 and seven top 10 finishes in the Saints Best and Fairest award, including fourth in 1998, 2000, and 2008. 

The 2008 season was probably his best, and he was considered unlucky not to be selected in the All-Australian side that year after being named in the squad of candidates. As he had done throughout his career, Hudghton took on and often beat faster and more skilled opponents, such as Matthew Lloyd and Buddy Franklin, by means of dogged determination and defensive pressure. 

Playing on an extra season than planned in 2009 proved unwise as injuries and loss of form saw him restricted to seven games, and unable to regain a place for the Grand Final, which saw the Saints go down in a thriller to Geelong. He promptly retired from the game, and has since taken on various specialist and assistant coaching roles.

Author - Murray Bird and Peter Blucher, with additional material from Adam Cardosi