AFL draft: Hugh McCluggage, of Allansford, the cream of the crop
HUGH McCluggage is the talk of the AFL world, but that means little on his current paddock, working on his family’s Western District dairy farm.
HUGH McCluggage is the talk of the AFL world, but that means little on his current paddock, working on his family’s Western District dairy farm.
McCluggage, 18, from Allansford just outside Warrnambool, is being touted as a potential No.1 selection at the AFL’s November 25 national draft, but when he spoke to The Weekly Times, football had taken a back seat to farm work — he was helping bring in cows for milking.
“I’ve loved growing up out here,” he said.
“I have pretty good memories of helping Dad out, whether it be on the tractor, or with the cows milking and stuff like that.”
Hugh has attended school in Ballarat for the past two years and this year became the first North Ballarat Rebels player to win the TAC Cup best-and-fairest, the Morrish Medal, despite playing just 10 regular season matches.
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If he is selected No.1 in the AFL draft, the midfielder will be the second player in TAC Cup history to win the Morrish Medal and be the top draft pick in the same year, after Carlton’s Matthew Kreuzer in 2007.
Essendon holds the No.1 selection this year for the first time but the pick is as open as any year with McCluggage and brilliant Sandringham defender Andrew McGrath rated the top two chances to join the Bombers.
McCluggage’s trump card is his ability to hit the scoreboard — he averaged 24 disposals and two goals per game in the TAC Cup this year, number never seen at AFL level.
The former Allansford junior and South Warrnambool senior footballer was an All-Australian this year after his stellar performance for Vic Country in the AFL Under-18 Championships.
But even Hugh is surprised at where he finds himself.
“I guess I knew if I worked hard I could have a pretty solid year,” he said.
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