Ethan Hughes

Originally from Bunbury, Western Australia, he was drafted with the 13th selection in the 2015 Rookie Draft from Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL).{{cite news|title=Ethan's arrival|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/30233/ethan-s-arrival|access-date=29 June 2022|language=en}} In 2015 he played for Peel Thunder in the WAFL, Fremantle's reserve team. Hughes was a part of Peel Thunder's inaugural premiership in 2016, defeating Subiaco by 23 points.

Hughes was named to make his AFL debut for Fremantle in the final round of the 2015 AFL season, during Fremantle's round twenty three clash against Port Adelaide at the Adelaide Oval. Twelve changes were made to Fremantle's team, and Hughes was one of four players to make their AFL debuts.{{cite news|url=https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/29444215/another-docker-goes-out/|title=Another Docker goes out|first=Shayne|last=Hope|date=5 September 2015|access-date=5 September 2015|archive-date=5 September 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150905220750/https://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/sport/a/29444215/another-docker-goes-out/|url-status=dead}} Hughes signed a contract extension during the 2016 AFL season tying him to Fremantle until at least the end of 2017.{{cite news|title=Freo trio sign extensions|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/340336/freo-trio-sign-extensions|access-date=29 June 2022|language=en}}

After missing the opening two rounds of the 2017 AFL season, Hughes featured in every game except for Fremantle’s round 12 visit to Brisbane, playing 18 games and kicking his first goal.{{cite news|title=Confidence growing for Hughes|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/61780/confidence-growing-for-hughes|access-date=29 June 2022|language=en}} Hughes only played five games during the 2018 AFL season and signed a one-year contract extension at the end of 2018.{{cite news|title=Defender dodges Freo cull with one-year deal|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/139373/defender-dodges-freo-cull-with-one-year-deal|access-date=29 June 2022|language=en}} The 2019 AFL season saw Hughes play a career best 21 out of a possible 22 games.{{cite news|title=Fremantle Dockers’ Ethan Hughes has worked his way past 50 games but is ready for another leap|url=https://thewest.com.au/sport/afl/fremantle-dockers-ethan-hughes-has-worked-his-way-past-50-games-but-is-ready-for-another-leap-ng-b881520610z|access-date=29 June 2022|language=en}}

Hughes continued his run of career best form into 2020, playing every game and finishing seventh in Fremantle's Best and Fairest.{{cite news|last=Schmook|first=Nathan|title=Spreading his wings: Docker grabs chance amid selection squeeze

|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/881380/spreading-his-wings-docker-ethan-hughes-grabs-chance-amid-selection-squeeze|access-date=13 August 2023|work=afl.com.au|language=en}} As a versatile player, Hughes often found himself rotating between Fremantle's wing and backline during the 2023 AFL season. Hughes played his 100th game in round 20 during Fremantle's 7 point win over Geelong at Kardinia Park.{{cite news|last=|first=|title=Persistence key as Hughes hits 100 game milestone|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1386294/persistence-key-as-hughes-hits-100-game-milestone|access-date=13 August 2023|work=fremantlefc.com.au|language=en}} Hughes suffered an ankle injury in Round 21 against the {{AFL BL}}, and as a result was ruled out for the remainder of the season. He finished 2023 having played 20 games.

After playing only six games in 2024, Hughes was not offered a contract by Fremantle heading into 2025, seemingly ending his career at AFL level.{{cite web|url=https://www.fremantlefc.com.au/news/1652447/fremantle-list-update|title=Fremantle list update|website=fremantlefc.com.au|date=11 September 2024}} He continued playing for Peel Thunder during their 2024 finals campaign, and was one of their better player during the grand final win over {{WAFL|EP}} at Optus Stadium, becoming a two-time premiership player with the Thunder.{{cite news|title=Thunder rumbles Royals as Peel wins WAFL flag|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1227486/thunder-rumbles-royals-as-peel-wins-wafl-flag|work=afl.com.au|date=24 September 2024|first=Chris|last=Pike}}

: Statistics are correct to the end of 2024{{cite web|url=https://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/E/Ethan_Hughes.html|title=Ethan Hughes|publisher=AFL Tables|access-date=25 May 2022}}

{{AFL player statistics legend}}

{{AFL player statistics start}}

|-

| 2015 || {{AFL Fre}}

| 42 || 1 || 0 || 0 || 12 || 10 || 22 || 8 || 3 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 12.0 || 10. 0 || 22.0 || 8.0 || 3.0

|-

| 2016 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 5 || 0 || 0 || 41 || 36 || 77 || 24 || 13 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.2 || 7.2 || 15.4 || 4.8 || 2.6

|-

| 2017 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 18 || 1 || 0 || 157 || 130 || 287 || 93 || 31 || 0.1 || 0.0 || 8.7 || 7.2 || 15.9 || 5.2 || 1.7

|-

| 2018 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 5 || 1 || 0 || 37 || 29 || 66 || 18 || 5 || 0.2 || 0.0 || 7.4 || 5.8 || 13.2 || 3.6 || 1.0

|-

| 2019 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 21 || 2 || 2 || 176 || 159 || 335 || 100 || 27 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 8.4 || 7.6 || 16.0 || 4.8 || 1.3

|-

| 2020{{efn|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.}} || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 17 || 0 || 0 || 140 || 77 || 217 || 79 || 20 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 8.2 || 4.5 || 12.8 || 4.6 || 1.2

|-

| 2021 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 8 || 0 || 1 || 75 || 64 || 139 || 29 || 12 || 0.0 || 0.1 || 9.4 || 8.0 || 17.4 || 3.6 || 1.5

|-

| 2022 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 6 || 0 || 0 || 45 || 48 || 93 || 27 || 5 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.5 || 8.0 || 15.5 || 4.5 || 0.8

|-

| 2023 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 20 || 2 || 1 || 157 || 110 || 267 || 85 || 35 || 0.1 || 0.1 || 7.9 || 5.5 || 13.4 || 4.3 || 1.8

|-

| 2024 || {{AFL Fre}} || 15

| 6 || 0 || 0 || 47 || 31 || 78 || 31 || 9 || 0.0 || 0.0 || 7.8 || 5.2 || 13.0 || 5.2 || 1.5

|- class="sortbottom"

! colspan=3| Career

! 107 !! 6 !! 4 !! 887 !! 694 !! 1581 !! 494 !! 160 !! 0.1 !! 0.0 !! 8.3 !! 6.5 !! 14.8 !! 4.6 !! 1.5

|}

Notes

{{notelist}}

{{Reflist}}

• {{Fremplayer}}
• {{AFL Tables}}
• {{AustralianFootball}}
• {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
• [https://www.wafl.com.au/player/ethan-hughes WAFL Player Profile and Statistics]

{{Peel Thunder 2016 WAFL premiers}}

{{Peel Thunder 2024 WAFL premiers}}

{{2015 AFL rookie draft}}

{{2019 AFL rookie draft}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Hughes, Ethan}}

Category:1994 births

Category:Living people

Category:Fremantle Football Club players

Category:Harvey Brunswick Leschenault Football Club players

Category:Peel Thunder Football Club players

Category:Swan Districts Football Club players

Category:Australian rules footballers from Western Australia

Category:21st-century Australian sportsmen

Category:South Fremantle Football Club players