Warrnambool export Hugh McCluggage, on the eve of his 50th AFL game, says he's still learning every day he spends at the Brisbane Lions.
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The 21-year-old, who was snapped up by the Lions at number three in the 2016 national draft, has played an incredible 49 out of a possible 53 games since he debuted against St Kilda in round three of the 2017 season.
McCluggage is averaging 22.6 disposals per game in his third season, along with 3.7 marks, 3.7 tackles and 1.2 goals, the last of which is considered 'elite' for a midfielder by AFL Stats Pro.
If someone ever said to me I'd be reaching 50 games two and half years, I probably wouldn't have believed them.
- Hugh McCluggage
But the former South Warrnambool Rooster said he never took his opportunity for granted and joked that teammate Luke Hodge claimed to have never heard of him when the ex-Hawthorn legend moved to Brisbane in 2018.
"If someone ever said to me I'd be reaching 50 games in two-and-a-half years, I probably wouldn't have believed them," McCluggage told the Brisbane Lions website.
"I still feel like I'm a young player and I'm still learning so much."
"The biggest thing was probably how hard you've got to work because nothing comes easy, both individually and as a team.
"You can't take any team lightly - everyone is going well and it's such an even competition.
"If you're not looking for that consistent improvement, you're just going to get left behind.
"And that goes individually as well. If you don't strive to improve day in and day out...there's boys playing really good footy in the NEAFL (North East Australian Football Leauge) who will come up and take your spot."
McCluggage will celebrate his first AFL milestone when Brisbane, currently fourth after a gripping one-point win over Adelaide, takes on Fremantle, ninth, at Optus Stadium on Sunday.
And the rising star said the key to winning would be matching the Dockers' contested brand of football.
"There's a few others like them that just try to grind you down during the game," McCluggage said.
"So we've got to stick with them and hopefully the game opens up at some stage, allowing us to use our outside run and speed.
"It's obviously a hostile place (Optus Stadium) and really tough to go over and win. Last year we were able to go and do that, which was really big for our confidence and a nice one to tick off.
"But they're going really well this year and we're not going to take them lightly. We're definitely going to put a lot of work into them."
The Lions will lose Rhys Mathieson through suspension but could regain Allen Christensen.
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