Frank Hughes (footballer, born 1894)

Francis Vane Hughes (26 February 1894 – 23 January 1978), nicknamed Checker, was an Australian rules footballer and coach in the Victorian Football League (now the Australian Football League). He coached Richmond to premiership success once and the Melbourne Football Club to premiership success four times, and he was responsible for the club changing its nickname to the Demons. He also had a war-interrupted playing career that resulted in two premierships.

For other people with the same name, see Frank Hughes (disambiguation).

Frank Hughes
Personal information
Full name Francis Vane Hughes
Nickname(s) Checker
Date of birth (1894-02-26)26 February 1894
Place of birth Myrtleford, Victoria
Date of death 23 January 1978(1978-01-23) (aged 83)
Place of death East Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s) Burnley
Height 175 cm (5 ft 9 in)
Weight 70 kg (154 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1914–1923 Richmond 87 (51)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1927–1932 Richmond 120 0(87–31–2)
1933–1941 Melbourne 173 (108–64–1)
1945–1948 Melbourne 084 0(49–34–1)
1965 Melbourne 001 00(0–1–0)
Total 378 (244–130–4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1923.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1965.
Career highlights

Club

Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Hughes served in the 57th battalion of the Australian Imperial Force during World War I, was made a company quartermaster sergeant, and was awarded a Meritorious Service Medal in recognition of his significant contribution in France and Belgium. In 2021, the AFL honoured Hughes' combined merits as a soldier, football player, and football coach by having the Frank ‘Checker’ Hughes medal named in his honour for the player judged best afield in the Anzac Day Eve match between Melbourne and Richmond.[1][2]

Playing career

A small and quick player with brilliant skills in stab passing and handball, Hughes played in two Richmond Football Club premiership sides (1920, 1921) during his 87-game career, although his playing career was stalled for 3½ years due to his war service.

Coaching career

Hughes coached over an extended period with a great deal of success, securing 5 VFL premierships. When his friend and former Richmond secretary Percy Page went to the Melbourne Football Club, Hughes followed him. He renamed the "Fuchsias" to Demons, sacked 13 players, and instilled discipline in the club.

  • Ulverstone (Tasmania) 1924–1926
  • Richmond 1927–1932 (120 games, 87 wins, 31 losses, 2 draws)
  • Melbourne 1933–1941, 1945–1948, 1965 (254 games, 157 wins, 95 losses, 2 draws)

Hughes was inducted to the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, with his citation reading:

Took Richmond to premiership success in 1932 then went to Melbourne and landed another four flags. A tough and disciplined coach.

References
  1. "Frank 'Checker' Hughes Medal up for grabs". richmondfc.com.au. 22 April 2022. Retrieved 11 April 2023.
  2. "'Checker' Hughes to be honoured on ANZAC Day Eve". www.mcc.org.au. Retrieved 11 April 2023.

Sources
  • Ross, John (1999). The Australian Football Hall of Fame. Australia: HarperCollinsPublishers. p. 79. ISBN 0-7322-6426-X.
  • Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
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