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 2023, this figure has grown to more than 300, including 31 "Legends".[1] There had previously been 32 official Legends, but disgraced player Barry Cable had his football honours rescinded after being found guilty of historical child sex abuse.[2][3]
Since 2015, anyone involved in the game from its inception in 1858 until at least five years after their retirement are theoretically eligible; however, as of 2023, very few outside the elite leagues—the Victorian/Australian Football League (VFL/AFL), the West Australian Football League (WAFL), the South Australian National Football League (SANFL), the Challenge Cup of 1870–1876, the South Australian Interclub competition of 1870–1876, and the Victorian Football Association (VFA) of 1877–1896) have been inducted.
Selection
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 five years before they become eligible for induction (extended from three years in 2015),[4] while coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives are eligible immediately upon retirement.
The committee considers candidates from all 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.
In 2010, several amendments were made to the selection criteria, with key changes including:[5]
The maximum number of inductees in any single year reduced from eight to six, to increase the emphasis and honour for those inducted. This change was reversed in 2018.[6]
The requirement to induct a minimum of three recently retired players (retired within 10 years of each induction ceremony) reduced to a minimum of two, to ensure older players deserving of induction are represented in proportion. This requirement was removed completely in 2018.[6]
The requirement to have one inductee from the grouping of categories umpire/administrator/media every year changed to a minimum of one from this category every two years. In 2018, the requirement for people in the media or administration categories to have retired was removed.[6]
The Hall of Fame selection committee to be independent from the AFL Commission. The wording in the charter has been changed so that the selection committee recommends to the commission for "endorsement" rather than for "approval".
Selectors would be appointed for an initial term of three years, with two further opportunities to be appointed for subsequent three year terms (total of nine years).
At least 25 per cent of the selection committee to reside outside of Victoria.
Mike Fitzpatrick, Brian Atkinson, Kevin Bartlett, Brendon Gale, Tim Lane, Jim Main, David Parkin, Tom Reynolds, Mike Sheahan, Patrick Smith, Leigh Whicker, Caroline Wilson.
Western Australia: Richard Goyder, Tania Armstrong, Ross Glendinning.
Legends
The Legends category is reserved for those who are deemed to have had a significant impact on the game of Australian rules football. Most "Legends" enshrined to date represent former players who played the majority or the whole of their career in the VFL/AFL, with three players in Barrie Robran, Jack Oatey (SANFL) and Merv McIntosh (WAFL) being selected for careers in other state leagues. Being named as a "Legend" of the Australian Football Hall of Fame is the highest honour which can be bestowed onto an Australian footballer. As of 2023, there are 31 Legends, less than one in 400 (<0.25%) of all VFL/AFL players, and the feat is even rarer when considering other leagues outside of the AFL.[12]
In 2010, several amendments to the Legends category were made to ensure the exclusivity and prestige of the Hall of Fame. Among them were:[13]
The Legends category remains exclusively for recognition of the most significant playing and coaching records
The number of Legends that can be part of the Hall of Fame remains at a maximum of 10 percent of the total inductees
Criteria for elevating an inductee to Legend status requires that only ‘playing and coaching’ records be taken into account and not a candidate's overall contribution to the game outside of playing and coaching
1996, Legends
Inductee
Year elevated
Games
Goals
Premierships
Highlights
Player
Coach
Darrel BaldockDarrel Baldock representing Tasmanian underage side in Brisbane
Every year there is a special Hall of Fame dinner to announce and welcome the new inductees to the Hall of Fame.
The Hall of Fame inductions started in Melbourne in 1996 to celebrate the VFL-AFL centenary season. Ceremonies have only been held outside of Victoria twice, once at Canberra in 2013 and once at Adelaide in 2017.[15]
In 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the usual annual induction event was not held, and instead the new inductees and legend elevation were announced over four nights in a series of television shows.[16]
Until 2021, Barrie Robran was the only Legend inductee in the Australian Football Hall of Fame who did not play club football in Victoria during his career, a point often used to criticise the institution.
The Hall of Fame has been criticised by football writers and historians for being heavily biased towards figures from Victoria.[17]
The initial selection committee was made up of 11 Victorians, one South Australian and one Western Australian, with the current selection committee being made up of six Victorians, two Western Australians and one South Australian. Of the 136 inaugural inductees into the Hall of Fame, 116 played substantial parts of their careers in Victoria, with eleven of the thirteen "Legends" from Victoria.[18]
Criticism has also been slated at the under-representation of pioneers and other early stars of the game, as Adam Cardosi wrote in 2014:[19]
If we take the HOF at face value, footy legends only started to appear in number from the 1930s, and reached a high point in the 1960s and 1970s. ... Thus, according to the HOF's reckoning, the first sixty five years of the game is worth one legend, while the next sixty five years is worth 24 legends.
In 2018, the same criticism was levelled by ABC sport reporter James Coventry, who mentioned that over 60% of Legends inducted were either playing or coaching in 1969.[20]
I would never suggest Kevin Sheedy is not a worthy Legend, he absolutely is, but you have to think something's gone seriously wrong with past selection for the #HallofFame to now be in a position where 17 of its 28 Legends were active in 1969.
Declined inductions
In 2021, Garry McIntosh and Adam Goodes both declined their nominations to be inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Goodes declined due to the lack of support and remedial action taken by the AFL in response to the racial abuse he had endured in his final years playing in the AFL,[21][22] while McIntosh stated that "he did not play the game for personal honours".[23]
Removed inductees
Barry Cable was removed from the Hall of Fame in 2023 and his Legend Status was revoked after he was found civilly liable in a sexual abuse lawsuit. The victim was awarded damages of $818,700. Cable was never criminally charged in relation to the incident.[24]
See also
Australian Capital Territory Football Hall of Fame ACT (Est. 2006)
New South Wales Football Hall of Fame NSW (Est. 2003)
Northern Territory Football Hall of Fame NT (Est. 2010)
