Hall
of Fame
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, the Centenary
year of the Australian Football League, to help recognise the contributions
made to the sport of Australian rules football by players, umpires, media
personalities, coaches and administrators. It was initially established
with 136 inductees. As of 2006, this figure had grown to 176, including
18 "Legends". While those involved in the game from its inception
in 1858 are theoretically eligible, no one outside of the major leagues
- the Australian Football League (VFL/AFL), the Victorian Football League
(VFA/VFL), the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and the South Australian
National Football League (SANFL) - has been recognised to date.
Selection
Criteria
A committee considers candidates on the basis of their ability, integrity,
sportsmanship and character. While the number of games played, coached or umpired,
or years of service in the case of administrators and media representatives,
is a consideration, it alone does not determine eligibility. Players must be
retired from the game for at least three years before they become eligible
for induction, while coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives
are eligible immediately upon retirement. The committee considers candidates
from all the states and territories of Australia and from all Australian Football
competitions within Australia.
The following
excerpt from the official Hall of Fame website highlights
the main criteria used by the committee in selecting inductees
to the Hall of Fame:
The Committee
shall consider a candidate’s outstanding service
and overall contribution to the game of Australian Football
in determining a candidate’s eligibility for induction
into the Hall of Fame.
Without limiting clause 5.1, the Committee may consider a candidate’s
individual record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character.
The number of football games played, coached or umpired or the years of service
provided shall only be a consideration and shall not be determinative in
assessing a candidate’s eligibility.
A player, coach, umpire, administrator or media representative involved at
any level of Australian Football may be eligible for induction into the Hall
of Fame.
Candidates shall be adjudged on the basis of their overall contribution to
Australian Football, as opposed to one specific aspect.
Inductees
For a full list of inductees into the Hall of Fame, see List of Australian
Football Hall of Fame inductees.
Legends
The Legends category is reserved for those who are deemed to have had a positive
impact on the game of Australian rules. The title of Legend is intended to
be bestowed on no more than 10% of the total inductees of the Hall of Fame
(the actual percentage of "Legends" to total inductees is currently
10.23%). All "Legends" enshrined to date represent former players
of the VFL/AFL, with the exception of Barrie Robran who played the whole of
his career in the SANFL. Being named as a "Legend" of the Australian
Football Hall of Fame is the highest honour which can be bestowed onto an Australian
footballer.
The Hall
of Fame was established in 1996 with 12 initial "Legends".
These were: Ron Barassi, Haydn Bunton Senior, Roy Cazaly,
John Coleman, Jack Dyer, Polly Farmer, Leigh Matthews,
John Nicholls, Bob Pratt, Dick Reynolds, Bob Skilton and
Ted Whitten (see above list for further details).
The following
have been promoted to the status of "Legend" since
1996: Ian Stewart (1997), Gordon Coventry (1998), Peter
Hudson (1999), Kevin Bartlett (2000), Barrie Robran (2001),
Bill Hutchison (2003), Jock McHale (2005) and Darrel Baldock
(2006).
Induction ceremony
Every year there is a special Hall of Fame dinner to announce and welcome the
new inductees to the Hall of Fame.
Controversy
Gary Ablett's induction was deferred until 2005 due to a controversy associated
with the death of a young woman acquaintance shortly after his retirement,
which was felt to be likely to bring the Hall into disrepute. When he was inducted
in 2005, Gary Ablett did not attend the dinner and Geelong CEO Brian Cook accepted
his induction on his behalf.
AFL World
AFL World (formerly Hall of Fame and Sensation), located at Queen Victoria
Village in Melbourne, Australia, the AFL Hall of Fame and Sensation is a place
where merchandise can be purchased and a massive array of activities are available.
It provides video details of all clubs from their beginnings and biographies
on all members of the Hall Of Fame. Advertising for the building was mainly
done by Matthew Lloyd.
Activities
include:
- A
guided tour of simulations allowing you to experience
playing as a footballer
- A
Simulation that allows you to kick (or miss) a significant
goal in footballing history
- Do
your own commentary for a selected goal
- The
Handball challenge
Copyright
(c) Wikipedia.
Permission is granted to copy, distribute and/or modify this document
under the terms of the GNU
Free Documentation License, Version 1.2.
Australian rules football. (2007, January
8). In Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. Retrieved 00:42,
January 18, 2007, from http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Australian_rules_football&oldid=99222713 |
