Hugh McCluggage

Hugh McCluggage (born 3 March 1998) is a professional Australian rules footballer and co-captain of the Brisbane Lions in the Australian Football League (AFL).

Early life McCluggage was raised in Allansford, Victoria and participated in the Auskick program there before playing junior football with the Allansford Football Club in the Warrnambool District Football League. He later played for Hampden Football League club South Warrnambool. In addition to Australian rules, McCluggage also played junior cricket, hockey, and soccer. He attended secondary school at Warrnambool College, before finishing his final two years of school at Ballarat Clarendon College as a boarder. The latter was where he met Jarrod Berry and formed a close friendship.

McCluggage played senior Australian rules with South Warrnambool Football Club in the Hampden Football Netball League. He represented Vic Country in the AFL Under-18 Championships and played under 18 football with the North Ballarat Rebels in the TAC Cup winning the Morrish Medal despite playing only 10 matches.

AFL career He made his debut in the thirty-one point loss against at Etihad Stadium in round three of the 2017 season. After the sixty point loss to at the Gabba in round 14, in which he recorded nineteen disposals, eight marks and two tackles, he received the round nomination for the 2017 AFL Rising Star.

In 2019 and 2020, McCluggage came third in the Merrett–Murray Medal, and he was runner-up to Dayne Zorko and Lachie Neale in 2021 and 2022 respectively. McCluggage also collected a career-best 14 Brownlow Medal votes in 2022. A maiden best-and-fairest award eluded McCluggage yet again in 2023, losing to captain Harris Andrews during a year in which the Lions made the grand final.

McCluggage was part of the Brisbane Lions 2024 premiership winning team, having 21 disposals and a goal in a dominant team victory.

In 2025, after averaging 27 disposals, 5.8 clearances and 7.6 score involvements a game, McCluggage was named in the 2025 All-Australian team. McCluggage was part of the Lions' 2025 Premiership team, kicking four goals from 26 disposals.

Statistics Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.

222 !! 142 !! 144 !! 2923 !! 2031 !! 4954 !! 1000 !! 799 !! 0.6 !! 0.6 !! 13.2 !! 9.1 !! 22.3 !! 4.5 !! 3.6 !! 70