The often unheralded defender got reward for his efforts in 2020, voted by his teammates as the winner of the Players’ Trademark Award. It’s no surprise Hughes was recognised by those beside him on game-day, with his courage to win almost every 50-50 contest he was involved in. Hughes was one of the crucial members of Freo’s backline that shut down many of the game’s best forwards despite missing a number of their tallest and best players.