Australian Football 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 2008, this figure has grown to 219, including 22 "Legends". While those involved in the game from its inception in 1858 are theoretically eligible, very few 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) - have been recognised to date.

election 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 [http://www.aflhalloffame.com.au 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 10.05%). 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), Darrel Baldock (2006), Norm Smith (2007) and Alex Jesaulenko (2008).

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

External links

* [http://www.afl.com.au/Season2007/Awards/HallofFame/tabid/265/Default.aspx Official Hall of Fame website]

References

*cite book |last=Ross |first=John |authorlink= |coauthors= |title=The Australian Football Hall of Fame |year=1999 |publisher=HarperCollinsPublishers |location=Australia |id=ISBN 0-7322-6426-X |