Hugh McCluggage's rise to 100 AFL games through his dad Sam's eyes

The smooth-moving wingman is considered one of the competition's brightest young talents and crucial to Brisbane's premiership aspirations.

Hugh, 23, will play his 100^th senior match for the Lions against Gold Coast at the GABBA on Saturday, five years after being drafted from South Warrnambool.

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Sam, who runs a farm at Allansford, said hard work complemented Hugh's natural football instincts.

"He loved his sport when he was a little tacker and because he was our eldest child he hung around with older ones because I was involved with sport and (my wife) Christine was as well," he told The Standard.

"He did a lot of practicing and always had a ball in his hand. He studied the game pretty hard as a young fella. He just really loved it. When he started playing himself, he did stand out.

"He was very, very small and quite skinny but he could always read the play well and had good skills.

"He could win the footy and no one would be able to catch him."

But it wasn't until Hugh's top-age NAB League season with GWV Rebels in 2016 that the family realised he was going to go high in the AFL draft.

The Lions pounced with pick three.

"We are proud of what he's done in his first five seasons," Sam said.

The Lions have played some finals as well so all of a sudden 100 games sneaks up pretty quickly."

The accolades, such as being in the initial All-Australian squad twice, and talk of Brownlow Medal votes are flowing.

Sam said it was pleasing for Hugh but he remained level-headed.

"Our family are pretty good at keeping things in perspective so we are just really happy he's in a strong environment," he said.

"There's a good culture at the footy club and we're just excited he's continually growing, his game is growing over time and where the ceiling is only he'll know that.

"He's gone to a good club that have started at the bottom and are working their way up."

Sam, who is working with South Warrnambool Hurricanes, its all-abilities program, believes Hugh's "overall consistency" has helped elevate his game.

"When you're young, you're quite tired," he said.

"The first couple of years is a heavy load and physically demanding so it's hard to keep your form up, especially through the middle and back half of the season.

"What I have noticed now is he's a little more used to that physical load. He's been able to maintain a form line."

It's roughly 2000 kilometres from Allansford to Brisbane, depending on whether you drive inland or via the coast, but Sam said Hugh had found a second home in Queensland.

"He extended his contract in the off-season and you wouldn't do that if you weren't comfortable in the environment," he said.

Sam thanked teachers and coaches who have played a part in Hugh's life.

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