After playing in Subiaco's 2006, 2007 and 2008 WAFL premiership winning teams and winning the 2008 Tom Outridge Medal as Subiaco's best and fairest player,[1] Broughton was drafted to Fremantle in the 2009 Rookie Draft with Fremantle's final selection, number 74 overall.[2] After displaying good form as a small defender during the 2009 pre-season, he was elevated to Fremantle's senior list as a nominated rookie, along with Matt de Boer.[3]
Broughton made his AFL debut for Fremantle in Round 3 of the 2009 AFL season at Subiaco Oval against Adelaide.[4] In 2009, Broughton averaged 23 possessions with a high of 37 against Port Adelaide in Round 19.
In December 2006, before he was drafted by Fremantle, Broughton suffered a fractured eye socket in a nightclub incident allegedly involving Fremantle players Jeff Farmer and Steven Dodd. Farmer retired from AFL football a few months before Broughton was drafted to Fremantle, but Dodd was a teammate of Broughton's. No charges were laid following the incident.[5]
Broughton's father, who is part Maori, was from Pātea in New Zealand and moved to Australia when he was 20 years old.[6]