Born at Calvary Hospital, Hobart to Lew Sutton and Margaret (Meg) (née Collis),[1] Sutton was a utility player and was recruited to North Melbourne in 1973 from Tasmanian Australian National Football League (TANFL) side Glenorchy but left the club after just one season, due to ill health, and returned to Glenorchy.

He earned All Australian selection in both 1979 and 1980 for his performances as captain of Tasmania at the 1979 and 1980 state carnivals.

Sutton died from pneumonia, but had been suffering dementia in the latter years of his life.

[2] Tasmanian football legend Peter Hudson, who played with and against Sutton, paid tribute upon hearing of his death: He had an enormous leap, that was one of his strengths.

[2]North Melbourne premiership teammate Peter Keenan described Sutton as a game changer, citing his five goals in the 1976 Preliminary final and adding that he "was just one of those players who could turn it on.