Vale Ray Hughson

Image by Ron Lockens

AFL Queensland wishes to express its deepest sympathy to the family and friends of Ray Hughson, following his passing, aged 86.
 
QAFL great and inductee into the Queensland Australian Rules Hall of Fame, Hughson passed away on the first of January 2023.
 
Hughson was a spectacular high-flying full forward who played schoolboy rugby league, Australian football and cricket for Queensland.
 
The Morningside junior left the game for five years as a 16-year-old but later returned to become one of the ‘greats’. 
 
Hughson joined Wests in 1957 and was a ‘disciple’ of coaching legend Doug Pittard.
 
Hughson dominated the QAFL and was the league’s leading goal-kicker in 1958-59-62-63-64-65, kicking 100 goals four times.
 
If not for a brief stint with SANFL club West Torrens in 1960-61 Ray may have topped the list eight times in a row.
 
Hughson ranks third on the all-time AFLQ list with 680 goals behind Kent Abey, Morningside (787) and Owen Backwell, Western Districts (767).
 
In 2003 AFL Queensland recognised his feats naming the QAFL leading goalkicking medal in his honour.
 
That same year, Hughson was named in the forward pocket next to Jason Dunstall and Owen Backwell in the Queensland Team of the Century.
 
Ray was inducted into the Queensland Australian Rules Hall of Fame in 2008.
 
Hughson’s funeral service will be held on Monday, 16 January 2023 at 10AM at the Allambe Memorial Park Garden Chapel, Nerang Gold Coast.
 
Our thoughts are with Ray’s wife, Shirley, their children, Lindsey and Brett and his grandchildren, Tahnee, Yolanda and Otto at this difficult time.
 

QAFL Leading Goalkickers: