Mark Hutchings

Mark Hutchings (born 25 May 1991) is an Australian rules footballer who plays for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League (AFL). From Perth, Western Australia, Hutchings captained his state at the 2009 National Under-18 Championships, and, having also played for East Perth in the West Australian Football League (WAFL), was selected by St Kilda in the 2010 Rookie Draft. A midfielder, he was delisted after a season at the club without having made his senior debut, and transferred to West Perth upon his return to Western Australia. Establishing himself as a regular player for the team, Hutchings was one of the competition's best players during the 2012 season, playing state football, finishing second in the Sandover Medal, and winning West Perth's best and fairest award. He was drafted by West Coast at the 2012 National Draft, and made his senior AFL debut during the 2013 season, playing nine matches during his debut season, as well as playing in a premiership for West Perth.

From Perth, Hutchings played junior football for the Coolbinia Junior Football Club, and later represented Western Australia at the 2007 National Under-16 Championships. Zoned to the East Perth Football Club, where he played in the colts (under-18) and reserves divisions of the West Australian Football League (WAFL), Hutchings made his senior debut for East Perth in early August 2008, recording 21 disposals against Peel Thunder in what The West Australian described as a "spectacular debut". He went on to play in each of the club's five remaining matches, and the following season played in the club's first seven matches, before being named in Western Australia's team for the 2009 National Under-18 Championships. With future Geelong player Mitch Duncan the only other East Perth player named in the state squad, Hutchings was named as captain of the team that went on to win the championships, and was best on ground in the game against the Northern Territory. Although he was not named in the under-18 All-Australian team, he was one of 75 (and 13 WA-based) players invited to the AFL draft camp, where he went on to finish equal third in the beep test, with a score of 14.12.