Max Hudghton

Max Kenneth Hudghton (born 2 September 1976 in Victoria, Australia) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Australian Football League.

Selected at pick 15 in the 1996 AFL Draft, Hudghton was a debutant who made his name in the St Kilda Football Club's 1997 season.

Hudghton played in 14 of 22 matches in the 1997 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda Football Club qualified in first position for the 1997 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 2nd Minor Premiership and 1st McClelland Trophy.

Hudghton was a versatile and tall defender who played on forwards of nearly any size. His defensive skills were an important part of the St Kilda team over his career.

Of the regular fullbacks in 2006, Hudghton conceded fewest goals. While his disposals average of 10 was below average for a defender, Hudghton's disposal efficiency of 90% was elite. With only 32 marks from opposition kicks in the past two years, he prefers to spoil and in 2006 he effected the fourth-most spoils in the league.

In 2008, Hudghton shut down key players such as Matthew Lloyd, Warren Tredrea, Russell Robertson, Brendan Fevola, Barry Hall and Lance Franklin in the home and away season. Hudghton held Franklin and Fevola to nine goals through four games (2.25 goals per game); a remarkable achievement given their combined 201 goal haul at 4.57 goals per game. He was included in the 2008 All Australian squad of 40.

Hudghton played in 7 of 22 matches in the 2009 AFL Premiership Season home and away rounds in which St Kilda qualified in first position for the 2009 AFL Finals Series, winning the club’s 3rd Minor Premiership.