Latest news with #HughMcCluggage
Yahoo
18-07-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Lions defeat Bulldogs in tough Gabba thriller
Brisbane have held firm to claim a fourth straight AFL win, defeating the Western Bulldogs 12.14 (86) to 12.4 (76) in a tough tussle at the Gabba. The 10-point win - after holding off a late Bulldogs' surge as Will Ashcroft kicked a goal on the siren - enhances Brisbane's prospects of a top four finish and allows them to celebrate the occasion of midfielder Hugh McCluggage's 200th AFL match in style. Defeat for the Bulldogs leaves them in a precarious position in the race for the finals, having now lost eight of the nine matches they've played against teams above them on the ladder. Rhylee West kicked a game-high four goals for the Bulldogs while for the Lions Will Ashcroft had three majors and his brother Levi was one of three Lions, along with Kai Lohmann and Jarrod Berry, to kick two goals each. WILL ASHCROFT IS CLUTCH!#AFLLionsDogs — AFL (@AFL) July 18, 2025 Aaron Naughton had two for the visitors. Lions midfielder Josh Dunkley was in top form against his former club, laying 14 tackles and recording 28 disposals while Bailey Dale's 33 touches were the most for the Bulldogs. With the Gabba surface slick after a storm whipped over the stadium before the match started, neither team could be separated in the first quarter. The biggest talking point of the term was Lions veteran Dayne Zorko coming to the sideline after his left foot was stomped on. The 36-year-old returned shortly afterward after getting the sore foot strapped as the hosts held a narrow one-point lead at the first break. Cam Rayner began the second term in damaging fashion, laying on an eye-catching tackle before snapping a goal to extend the hosts' lead before Lohmann and Will Ashcroft pushed that margin past two goals for the first time in the match. The home fans were left incensed when a Levi Ashcroft goal was ruled out for a throw in the build-up before Riley Garcia was the beneficiary of a free kick in the Bulldogs' favour to get the margin back into single digits. But Will Ashcroft's second after a smart tap by Charlie Cameron ensured the Lions were up by 13 at the main break. Midway through the third term the Lions had hit a game-high 22 point lead when Logan Morris converted but West's third of the match shortly afterward kept the Dogs in the hunt. Brisbane notched 24 inside 50s for the quarter to the Bulldogs' eight but both teams kicked three goals to keep the contest in the balance heading into the final term. The Dogs threatened a boilover with three late goals to get within four points but the Lions held firm with Will Ashcroft's third major right on the siren sealing the win.
The Advertiser
15-07-2025
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Unspoken rule behind Brisbane Lions' AFL revival
Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight. Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight. Hugh McCluggage can only imagine how hard it would have been to tell his Brisbane Lions teammates he was leaving. The 27-year-old is in arguably career-best form ahead of his 200th AFL game, against Western Bulldogs on Friday. The first player drafted, at pick No.3 in 2016, by new coach Chris Fagan, McCluggage and the Lions finished last in 2017 and 15th in 2018. What's happened since has exceeded even McCluggage's "wildest dreams", the Lions finishing second in 2019 and, after years of going close, winning a flag last year. McCluggage extended his initial deal until 2024 and then defied keen interest elsewhere to sign a seven-year deal tying him to the Lions until 2031. "I could see it was a tight group, and I was keen to help Zorks and Frog and those guys play in some finals, that was probably the aim at the start when sitting on the bottom," McCluggage said of his bond with veterans Dayne Zorko and Ryan Lester that first motivated the Victorian to remain in Brisbane. "In our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine what we've done." McCluggage, childhood mate Jarrod Berry, Zac Bailey and Cameron Rayner head a list of loyal Lions that have resisted the pull to return home. As the Lions (second, 12-4-1) craft their push for back-to-back flags, McCluggage said Fagan and his staff had fostered an environment that was hard to leave. "We never spoke about it (directly once, but it was one of those things you knew if you were to leave it'd be pretty hard to look them in the eyes and say, 'I'm going to go home'," McCluggage said. "We're extremely close, Bez (Berry) is in the same camp as that and also Big O (Oscar McInerney); we've been here the whole time he (Fagan) has. "A bit of a father figure to us … wraps an arm around you when he realises you need it but he is someone who can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way." Always a potent distributor, McCluggage has worked on his defence and become a menacing goal-kicking threat at stoppages to present a lively case for maiden All Australian honours this season. So impactful has McCluggage been that he's even attracted tags ahead of two-time Brownlow Medallist teammate Lachie Neale. "It's been a different challenge for me," he said of that attention. "Lucky I have Lachie to lean on … it's (being tagged) something that's a badge of honour. "I can trust that if I'm getting tagged out of the game then someone ... will go into the midfield and do what needs to be done." That battle will be key at the Gabba on Friday against a Bulldogs side one win outside the top eight.
News.com.au
15-07-2025
- Sport
- News.com.au
Brisbane Lions midfielder Hugh McCluggage continues to add ‘layers' to his game
Brisbane Lions star Hugh McCluggage is showing no signs of slowing down as he approaches his 200th AFL appearance, saying he is constantly evolving as a player as he adds 'layers' to his game. Still only 27, McCluggage – who chalks up his double century of top-flight games on Friday night against the Western Bulldogs at the Gabba – is arguably in career-best form in his ninth season of AFL football. 'As an inside midfielder, I've been able to have a good balance of contested work and uncontested work and (been) trying to add different layers to my game every year,' the Warrnambool product said. '(It has been) a bit of defensive stuff this year that I've worked on alongside Josh Dunkley and Lachie (Neale), and the other mids, and I'm always trying to improve. 'That's what keeps me motivated to keep playing for as long as I can. 'I've been pretty lucky being able to play a lot of games in a row since I debuted (in April 2017 against St Kilda).' Including his debut game, McCluggage has played in 199 of Brisbane's past 204 matches. 'I've only missed a handful, so it's a testament to all the hard work but also the work of everyone else around the club to help get me to this milestone, and hopefully there's plenty more to come,' he said. However, only nine of McCluggage's first 40 appearances ended up wins for Brisbane, as the Lions struggled in his first two seasons at the club. Other players in his situation might have asked for a trade to a Victorian club, which would have given him the chance to not only return home but also potentially taste more success. But McCluggage had no intention of turning his back on his Brisbane teammates and Chris Fagan, who remains the only head coach he has played under at AFL level. 'I could see that it was a really tight group. We had some really good leaders here already that probably just hadn't had the opportunity to play in the good side, so I was really keen to help guys like 'Zorks' (Dayne Zorko) and 'Frog' (Ryan Lester) play in some finals,' he said. 'Helping those guys achieve what they deserved was one of the motivating factors, and then also how close I was with guys like Jarrod Berry, Cam Rayner, Zac Bailey, 'Zorks', 'Frog', Dizz (Darcy Gardiner), Harris (Andrews) … the list goes on. 'They helped us when we first got here, we became really close, we've learned a lot of lessons along the way, and I think if you achieve success with people that you've gone through the ups and downs with, there's nothing that can compare to that. 'Probably in our wildest dreams we couldn't imagine we'd do what we've done in terms of the consistency that we've been able to play at, and winning a premiership as well is pretty special.' McCluggage also paid tribute to 'father figure' Fagan. 'In all the ups and the downs, he's been there the whole time. He wraps an arm around you when he when he realises that you need it, but he also is someone that can challenge you, and he's always wanted to help me grow in that way,' he said of the man who guided Brisbane to last season's flag. 'I couldn't imagine having anyone else as a coach because I've had him the whole time, and I've just really enjoyed working with him day in, day out.'
News.com.au
29-05-2025
- General
- News.com.au
Brisbane coach Chris Fagan wants Hugh McCluggage to be recognised for his brilliant efforts
Lions coach Chris Fagan has called for Brisbane's 'silent assassin' Hugh McCluggage to be rewarded with All-Australian selection after another superb display at the Gabba on Thursday night. McCluggage produced a best-on-ground performance with a career-high 41 disposals, including five score assists and 11 score involvements, in Brisbane's 18-point win over Essendon. 'Hughy McCluggage's game was huge,' Fagan said. 'He goes about it in a quiet manner but he's effective, a silent assassin out there.' McCluggage, 27, has made four All-Australian squads but is yet to make the final team in his eight previous AFL seasons. 'I hope at some point in time he wins an All-Australian guernsey because he's been such a consistent player for us for the last six years. The first couple of years he was developing. 'He's one of those fellows who is forever trying to improve. He's probably worked harder on the pressure defensive side of his game, both to get his body stronger but also to get involved more in that. 'That's a part of his game that's grown, and he's always been really good with the ball.' McCluggage's influence was critical on Thursday night as the Lions were forced to dig deep after Essendon fought back from being 32 points down at quarter time to take the lead eight minutes into the final quarter. 'At this time of the year, you're just happy to get the wins,' Fagan said. 'We did what we had to do when they got in front. There was good composure in the group just to build the ball up and to get scores. 'I like that about us. In AFL footy, every game is tough. In the end, we fought it out really well, showed good composure, and we'll take a little bit of confidence from that.' 'Confidence' is also building in Kai Lohmann, who kicked three goals on Thursday after failing to boot a major in his previous six appearances this season. 'He turned the corner last week (against Hawthorn). He got his pressure game back last week, and I reckon it was there again (against Essendon) and he got a little bit of a scoreboard reward,' Fagan said of the premiership-winning forward. 'I'm just hoping for him that he gets some confidence from that because it has been difficult for him. 'He set a high bar for himself last year, he's been injured a lot (this season). It looked like he was injured early in the game (on Thursday night). 'He hobbled off, but he was all good, and he helped us win the game.'
Yahoo
18-03-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Resilient Brisbane Lions move on from adversity
Brisbane premiership star Hugh McCluggage believes the Lions can cope with any adversity that comes their way after putting aside a difficult week to record a stirring win. Coach Chris Fagan described Saturday's four-point triumph over Sydney at the SCG in a grand final rematch as one of the Lions' "great wins". The match was Brisbane's first of the AFL season after their premiership flag-unfurling was delayed when Cyclone Alfred forced their clash with Geelong to be postponed. Not only did the Lions have to deal with weather wreaking havoc in their home state, but several players found themselves in tough situations. Key forward-ruck Sam Day was set to play his first game for the club after being picked up from Gold Coast, but had to pull out of the match due to the death of his father. Popular forward Linc McCarthy, who missed last year's premiership due to a knee injury, suffered a second anterior cruciate ligament at training before the Lions flew to Sydney. "It was a pretty tough week," McCluggage told reporters in Brisbane on Tuesday. "We had a pretty good training on Tuesday at the Gabba, then Linc got us in and broke the news and it was quite a deflating moment. "For it just to be taken away from him like that was very disappointing for him as a footballer and a mate. "Probably in the past when things like that have happened we haven't really dealt with it as well as we've been able to this year and last year. "You've just got to try and park it. "Those guys know we care for them but we've got to move on because we've got a job at hand." Against Sydney, star forward Charlie Cameron (calf) was withdrawn from the team only an hour before the match. And when Kai Lohmann suffered an ankle injury early, the Lions were suddenly without their three leading goal-kickers from last year following Joe Daniher's post-premiership retirement. Important defender Brandon Starcevich also suffered his third concussion in eight months during the third quarter against the Swans, which McCluggage described as "very concerning". "I've had a few concussions myself and it can be quite concerning when you're in that situation and not sure how you're going to recover," the vice-captain said. "There's concern with every concussion whether it's one, whether it's two, whether it's more than that. "Obviously the more you have, the more the level of concern. You never like to see them start stacking up. "But 'Starce' has a great medical team around him and I'm sure they'll be doing everything they can." Brisbane will finally unfurl their premiership flag this Sunday before their Gabba clash with struggling West Coast. Despite the Eagles coming off a horror 87-point defeat in Andrew McQualter's first game as coach, McCluggage expects West Coast to bounce back strongly. "If there's one thing I've learnt in my time playing AFL, it's that the week before does not matter," the 27-year-old said.
