Australian Football Hall of Fame: Malcolm Blight becomes a legend while Simon Goodwin, Barry Hall honoured
Updated
A group of football greats, including players from several eras and an umpire, have been inducted in to the Australian Football Hall of Fame at a gala event at Adelaide Oval.
Blight's stats:
- Played 163 games for South Australian club Woodville (1968-85)
- 178 games for North Melbourne (1974-82)
- Won the Magarey Medal in 1972 and the Brownlow Medal in 1978
- Topped the VFL goalkicking with 103 goals in 1982
- Dual Kangaroos premiership player (1975 and 1977)
- Entered the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996
- Coached Adelaide to back-to-back flags in 1997 and 1998
Legendary player and coach Malcolm Blight, who led the Adelaide Crows to back-to-back flags in 1997 and 1998, was elevated to legend status during the ceremony.
During his career he has been a player, coach, and he even had a stint as North Melbourne's playing coach, before later holding roles in the media and football administration.
He is one of the few players to have won a Brownlow Medal and the Magarey Medal.
"I just reckon there's a Sherrin in the heart," he told the crowd.
Earlier in the night, dual Adelaide premiership winner and Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin was the first to be inducted in to the Hall of Fame.
The Demons coach played 275 games for the Crows including winning back-to-back flags in 1997 and 1998.
The black-tie induction ceremony was held in Adelaide for the first time — only the second time the event has been held outside of Melbourne.
Goodwin told the gathering he tried to "prove people wrong", namely those who said he could not make it as an AFL footballer.
Hall lands honour
Big bad Barry Hall, who played for 289 games across St Kilda, Sydney and the Western Bulldogs was also an inductee.
The goal kicker who booted 746 goals across his career, and captained the Swans to their 2005 grand final victory, was known for his on-field aggression and love of boxing.
"I got away with one," Hall said, referring to when he successfully challenged a tribunal decision that made him eligible to play in a Sydney premiership.
He should have been suspended for the grand final, but Sydney's legal team got him off on a technicality.
North Melbourne ruck rover Anthony Stevens, who was known as a gritty player who won two premierships, was also named.
Best mate and former teammate Glenn Archer delivered a tribute to Stevens, who played 292 games, describing him as a "freak" and "the hardest worker I have ever seen".
Stevens played for North Melbourne between 1989 and 2004 and kicked 127 goals.
South Australian footballer John Halbert, who played for Sturt in the 1950s and 60s and later went onto coach Glenelg and Sturt, was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
"I've been very fortunate for football and this is a great honour," Halbert said.
"I love this game, I love it dearly."
Forward Ron Todd, who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League the 1930s and with Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association in the 1940s, also received the honour.
Todd kicked 327 goals for Collingwood.
Legendary umpire gets gong
The night was not limited to players and coaches with veteran umpire Brett Allen also honoured.
Allen made his umpiring debut in 1992, and umpired 347 career games including seven grand finals. He retired in 2007.
He was a four-time All-Australian umpire and was award the Australian Sports Medal in 2000 for his contribution to the sport.
Topics: australian-football-league, sport, adelaide-5000, sa, australia
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