A talented full forward, he was the VFA's leading goalkicker for six out of seven seasons from 1902 to 1908. The only season that he did not lead the competition's goalkicking was 1905 when he missed several matches due to injury. However, he still managed to kick 41 goals for the Tigers (only seven short of the season's leader) and play in the Richmond premiership side. He also played in Footscray's 1908 premiership.
Hutchinson's 260 goals kicked over his five seasons at Richmond was the most of any player during the club's time in the VFA. In his last season at Richmond he kicked 67 goals, at the time an individual season record for the Association. He improved on this mark by one goal in the next season, his first at Footscray. By the end of his final season he had become the first player in the VFA to kick over 500 career goals.