Frank 'Checker' Hughes

Francis Vane "Frank, Checker" Hughes (26 February 1894 – 23 January 1978) was a player and coach of Australian rules football in the Victorian Football League (later renamed to Australian Football League) in the period 1914 to 1948.

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

Playing career

A small and quick player with brilliant skills in stab passing and handball, Hughes played in two Richmond Football Club premiership sides.

  • Richmond 1914-15; 1919-23 (87 games, 51 goals)
    • Premierships 1920, 1921.

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 Melbourne Football Club Hughes followed him. He renamed the "Fuschias" 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)
    • Premiership 1932.
  • Melbourne 1933-1941, 1945–1948, 1965 (254 games, 157 wins, 95 losses, 2 draws)
    • Premierships 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948.

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
  • 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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