Hughie McPherson
Melbourne and Footscray
AFL career
50 games18 goals
- Debut
- R5 1939 v SME20 May 1939
- Most recent
- R12 1944 v RCH22 July 1944
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Kyneton, Hughie McPherson began his VFL journey at Footscray before crossing to Melbourne, where he forged a reputation as a beloved clubman and fierce competitor during the war years. A rugged utility often deployed as a second ruckman or defender, McPherson was less a polished ball-winner and more of an on-field enforcer, tasked with physically protecting star teammates like Jack Mueller and Don Cordner. While his playing tally was modest due to military service, his broader contribution to the sport was revolutionary; returning to the Demons as a trainer in the 1950s, he became the league's first-ever official team runner and is credited with suggesting the tactical shift that created the "ruck-rover" position for Ron Barassi.
Profile
- Born
- 21 Aug 1918
- Died
- 25 July 2013 (aged 94y 338d)
- Birthplace
- Kyneton, VIC
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 81 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Kyneton, Hughie McPherson began his VFL journey at Footscray before crossing to Melbourne, where he forged a reputation as a beloved clubman and fierce competitor during the war years. A rugged utility often deployed as a second ruckman or defender, McPherson was less a polished ball-winner and more of an on-field enforcer, tasked with physically protecting star teammates like Jack Mueller and Don Cordner. While his playing tally was modest due to military service, his broader contribution to the sport was revolutionary; returning to the Demons as a trainer in the 1950s, he became the league's first-ever official team runner and is credited with suggesting the tactical shift that created the "ruck-rover" position for Ron Barassi.