Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault product and former Fremantle defender Ethan Hughes signs with South Fremantle

South Fremantle’s South West signing spree has continued, with former Fremantle defender and Harvey-Brunswick-Leschenault product Ethan Hughes committing to the club. The Bulldogs announced on Monday the 29-year-old defender, who was delisted by Fremantle at the end of the 2024 season after 107 games across 10 seasons in the AFL, had joined the club for the 2025 season. Hughes played in the first six games of the Dockers’ 2024 season after featuring 20 times for the club in 2023 but was dropped from the side in the wake of their shock western derby loss in round seven, which proved to be his last appearance at the top level. South Fremantle beat out a number of other WAFL clubs, including Fremantle’s alignment partner Peel Thunder — who he has played 84 of his 86 WAFL league games for including their 2016 and 2024 grand final victories — and his junior club Swan Districts to secure his signature. Hughes will link up with a number of other players with links to the region at Fremantle Oval, including young guns Cooper Clarke-Dehring and Connor Carbone, who joined the club after strong seasons in the South West Football League, and one-time Harvey Bulls ruckman Hamish Free. Eaton product Isiah Winder and Bunbury’s Tom Bell are also at the club but are considered chances to be taken in the AFL draft, which will enter its second day on Thursday. The Bulldogs finished sixth on the WAFL ladder last season, missing out on a finals berth despite winning five of their first six games.