Frank 'Checker' Hughes

For other people of the same name, see Frank Hughes (disambiguation).

Frank Hughes
Personal information
Full name	Frank Hughes
Nickname(s)	Checker
Date of birth	(1894-02-26)26 February 1894
Date of death
Original team(s)	Burnley
Height/Weight	175cm / 70kg
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1914–1923	Richmond	87 (51)
Coaching career3
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1927–1932 1933–1941 1945–1948 1965 Total	Richmond Melbourne Melbourne Melbourne	120 (87–31–2) 173 (108–64–1) 84 (49–34–1) 1 (0–1–0) 378 (244–130–4)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1923 season. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1965.
Career highlights
Club 2× VFL premiership player: 1920, 1921 5× VFL premiership coach: 1932, 1939, 1940, 1941, 1948 Australian Football Hall of Fame Melbourne Hall of Fame Richmond Hall of Fame

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

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

• Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996

External links

• Frank 'Checker' Hughes's profile from AustralianFootball.com
• AFL: Hall of Fame
• Richmond Football Club - Hall of Fame

Checker Hughes Premiership Teams