From Ramblers Football Club to the Melbourne Demons - Country boy makes good - Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 - 1988; 1992 - 2002) - 27 Sep 1985 (original) (raw)

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Fri 27 Sep 1985 - Port Lincoln Times (SA : 1927 - 1988; 1992 - 2002)
Page 9 - From Ramblers Football Club to the Melbourne Demons

From Ramblers Football Club to the Melbourne Demons

Danny Hughes was a schoolboy

footballer with a man-size

Even as a colt with Ramblers

Football Club he dreamed one

day of making the big time.

He did, he succeeded and this

week, at 21 years of age, became

the first South Australian to win

the best and fairest award for the

As a teenager, Danny Hughes was fast

developing into a strapping young

He towered over many of his opponents

and displayed some of the moves and

The people of Cummins and Yallunda

Flat had faith in this boy.

While many youngsters were trying to

drag themselves out of bed, Danny, an

under 12 State player had already risen,

more often being on the final leg of his

lengthy runs on his parents' Yallunda

And while many of his friends were fulfilling

their schoolboy exploits, Danny,

the Son of Bob and Mavis Hughes, was

outside with his football.

As an only son, Danny had to improvise.

He would kick the ball then chase

it, racing against his dog, a kelpie named

"It was a bit lonely on the farm and the

dog was the only friend I had for a while.

We got to know each other fairly well,"

Danny said from Melbourne on

Afterwards, he would kick or handball

against the back wall of the house, building

up his reflexes and skills.

"I think I had left a mark on the wall

where I was throwing the ball," he said.

His extra efforts at training did not go

. Together with his teammates who included

John Fitzgerald and Brenton Cole,

Danny was an important part of the

Ramblers colts combination.

John Fitzgerald went on to become an

international tennis champion. Brenton

Cole became a Port Adelaide player.

And the talent scouts did not ignore

By that time he had already represented

his school at State level, been selected

in an Under 12 State side and later

played for the State Schoolboys under 16

He was selected in the under 16 All Australian

team, and so impressed Geelong

Football Club officials, they drafted him

At 15, Danny was travelling to Adelaide

each weekend to play for Port Adelaide

"Yes, I was a Norwood supporter when

I was younger, but I was in Port

In his first season in Adelaide, he won

the club's under 17 best and fairest

In 1980, he made the Teal Cup side and

was again selected in the All Australian

Team. That same year he progressed

through the under 19s and reserves, being

part of a reserves premiership team.

Geelong had given Danny up for a

more needed player but the next year

Melbourne was going to take over where

Danny had broken into the league football

ranks, playing an entire season, and

featuring in Port Adelaide's grand final

One week before the grand final, Mel-

bourne Football Club made an approach.

Later, coach Ron Barassi visited the

Hughes farm to speak with Danny and

his parents about his football future.

Danny stayed with Port Adelaide to

honor his contract, gaining State side

"I think that was when we got within

six points of the Vies," he recalled.

Danny's form slumped a little in 1983,

but Melbourne was still keen for this boy

from the farm to be part of its outfit.

He signed a three-year contract and

moved to Melbourne just two months after

his marriage to Karen Nelson.

In his first year Danny played 11 senior

games. As Melbourne failed to make the

finals, Danny was placed in the reserves

and figured prominently in the Demons'

premiership team, tieing for Melbourne's

This year, Danny has played each of

the 22 minor round games in league company,

establishing himself as a fine ruckman,

defender or centre half forward,

and termed by some as the silent

achiever in VFL football.

Danny's future is still very much

Initially, he intended to play in the VFL

"But with the award, I really don't

"We rather enjoy living in Melbourne

and the life style so we'll probably stay

for a little while yet," he said.

"And Melbourne had a lot of injuries

this year, so I think the team will be much

Danny said VFL football was much

different to what he thought it would be.

"It's still hard, but it's not as hard as

I thought. It's a lot faster than South Australia,

but the skills are still the same.

"The big difference is that in South

Australia the teams have about five or six

good players and then the standard drops

"Here, there are about 15 Or 16 really

good players in a team and the pressure

is on to perform every week to hold your

"When all the players come back from

injury, I mightn't even be able to get a

• Flashback to 1978 . . . Danny Hughes, 14, left, holds the trophy for runner-up best and fairest in tne North Adelaide Supporters Shield Carnival. Danny played for Great Flinders. At right is Wayne Raleigh of Lincoln 1, who was leading goalkicker. He now plays league football for Bostons. Help

• Flashback to 1978 . . . Danny Hughes, 14, left, holds the trophy for runner-up

best and fairest in tne North Adelaide Supporters Shield Carnival. Danny played

for Great Flinders. At right is Wayne Raleigh of Lincoln 1, who was leading goalkicker.

He now plays league football for Bostons.