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Hugh McCluggage
A man in a white shirt and maroon shorts stands on grass
McCluggage in September 2025
Personal information
Full name Hugh McCluggage
Nicknames Bags, The Scottish Suitcase, Luggage, Huge Luggage, Mcdamage
Born (1998-03-03) 3 March 1998 (age 28)
Original team North Ballarat Rebels (TAC Cup)/South Warrnambool Football Club
Draft No. 3, 2016 national draft
Debut Round 3, 2017, Brisbane Lions vs. St Kilda, at Etihad Stadium
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 87 kg (192 lb)
Position Midfielder
Club information
Current club Brisbane Lions
Number 6
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
2017– Brisbane Lions 222 (142)
Representative team honours2
Years Team Games (Goals)
2026– Victoria 1 (2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of round 22, 2026.
2 Representative statistics correct as of 2026.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

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

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McCluggage was raised in Allansford, Victoria and participated in the Auskick program there[1] 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.[2] 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.[3]

McCluggage played senior Australian rules with South Warrnambool Football Club in the Hampden Football Netball League.[4] 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.[4]

He was drafted by Brisbane with their first selection and third overall in the 2016 national draft.[5]

AFL career

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He made his debut in the thirty-one point loss against St Kilda at Etihad Stadium in round three of the 2017 season.[6] After the sixty point loss to Greater Western Sydney 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.[7]

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.[8] 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.[9]

McCluggage was part of the Brisbane Lions 2024 premiership winning team, having 21 disposals and a goal in a dominant team victory.[10]

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.[11] McCluggage was part of the Lions' 2025 Premiership team, kicking four goals from 26 disposals.[12]

Statistics

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Updated to the end of round 22, 2026.[13]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game) Votes
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
2017Brisbane Lions6 1881515212027270360.40.88.46.715.13.92.00
2018Brisbane Lions6 2210924018642696680.50.410.98.519.44.43.11
2019Brisbane Lions6 23231432020152190841.00.613.98.722.73.93.75
2020[a]Brisbane Lions6 1982121913635570520.41.111.57.218.73.72.74
2021Brisbane Lions6 241522407193600123890.60.917.08.025.05.13.710
2022Brisbane Lions6 2420183412515921271160.80.814.210.524.75.34.814
2023Brisbane Lions6 251313327231558117910.50.513.19.222.34.73.63
2024Brisbane Lions6 271914397270667143990.70.514.710.024.75.33.712
2025Brisbane Lions6 2718123983347321151220.70.414.712.427.14.34.521
2026Brisbane Lions6 138612210923149420.60.59.48.417.83.83.20
Career 22214214429232031495410007990.60.613.29.122.34.53.670

Notes

  1. ↑ The 2020 season was played with 17 home-and-away matches per team (down from 22) and 16-minute quarters with time on (down from 20-minute quarters with time on) due to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Honours and achievements

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Team

Individual

References

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  1. ↑ AFL Record. Round 2, 2022. pg 61
  2. ↑ Nepali Adventure Hugh McCluggage
  3. ↑ "'I couldn't imagine transitioning without him': The young Lions travelling the same way". Fox Sports. 15 May 2018. Retrieved 12 August 2025.
  4. 1 2 AFL draft: Hugh McCluggage, of Allansford, the cream of the crop by Hannah Driscoll for the Weekly Times. November 16, 2016
  5. ↑ Australian Associated Press (30 November 2016). "No.3 draft pick Hugh McCluggage is excited to call Brisbane home". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  6. ↑ Davis, Greg (6 April 2017). "Brisbane young guns Hugh McCluggage and Jarrod Berry are set to make their AFL debuts". The Courier-Mail. News Corp Australia. Retrieved 9 April 2017.
  7. ↑ McGowan, Marc (26 June 2017). "Top Lion draftee bags Rising Star nomination". AFL.com.au. Telstra. Retrieved 26 June 2017.
  8. ↑ "2022 Brownlow Medal Wrap". lions.com.au. 19 September 2022.
  9. ↑ "Andrews Claims Merrett–Murray Medal to be Crowned Lion King for 2023". lions.com.au. 4 October 2023.
  10. ↑ Twomey, Callum (28 September 2024). "Lion Kings: Fagan's heroes thrash Swans in GF shock". AFL. MCG.
  11. ↑ "Three Lions named in 2025 All-Australian team". lions.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  12. ↑ Twomey, Callum. "Lion hearted: Brisbane's second-half blitz seals back-to-back flags". afl.com.au. Retrieved 24 March 2026.
  13. ↑ "Hugh McCluggage". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 August 2026.
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