Club Inductees To Hall of Fame

by Lisa Albergo reporting for AFANA from Chicago

Sydney, Collingwood and Hawthorn have added to their respective Halls of Fame. The three clubs announced the new inductions at functions which also included jersey presentations to the playing list for the 2013 season.

SYDNEY INDUCTEES

RON HILLIS
Joined the club as a full forward but became a stalwart at full back. He played 137 games 1929-1937, won the club's best and fairest award in 1930 and 1935. He was an excellent high mark (catch of the ball), had great judgment and could kick the ball long. He missed the 1933 Premiership win due to injury.

JIM TAYLOR
153 games 1949-1954 and 1956-1961
A fearless and reliable ruckman who combined superbly with champion rover Bob Skilton. He could also play center half back, had a great leap and was quick for a player of his size. He won the club best and fairest award in 1953, but left the club in 1955 to play with Norwood in the SANFL. Returned to the Swans in 1956 and won another best and fairest in 1957. Represented Victoria in 15 games as well as representing South Australia in his only SANFL season.

PAUL WILLIAMS
Began his career at Collingwood where he played 189 games 1989-2000. He was traded to Sydney where he had an immediate impact with his speed and long kicking through the midfield. He won the club's best and fairest award in 2001 and 2002 and was named All-Australian in 2003. He played 117 games with the Swans.

He was a member of the 2005 Premiership team despite a broken collarbone during the season. Re-injured the bone in 2006 and retired after 117 games with the Swans. Has been working as an assistant coach since retiring with stints at Melbourne 2007-2008, Western Bulldogs 2009-2011 and with Carlton in 2012.

Cub Chairman Richard Colless was honored with a special presentation for his 20 years of service to the club. Colless also announced four additions to the club's Heritage List. The additions are:

The Swans first Premiership team - 1881

Jim Main's comprehensive history of South Melbourne/Sydney "In The Blood"

Tony Lockett's "after the siren" point in the 1996 Preliminary Final against Hawthorn to put the Swans into their first Grand Final since 1945 (a loss to Carlton)

The three generations of the Matthews family, whose club involvement spanned from 1914-1969:

E. Herbert Matthews, 33 games 1914 and 1923-24: a burly ruckman who played 3 games for Richmond in 1915 and 50 games for Melbourne 1919-1922. Father to Brownlow Medalist Herb, Jr.

J. Herbert Matthews, 191 games 1932-1945: a sturdy, tough, fast and talented wingman who could also play in the center and in the forward line. He was an excellent mark for his size and was one of the team's best in the 1933 Premiership win. He won best and fairest awards in 1936-37, 1939-40 and 1943. He and Collingwood's Des Fothergill tied for the Brownlow Medal in 1940. Both were given replicas at the time. The AFL awarded retrospective Medals to all dual winners in 1989. Captained the side 1938-1945, was captain-coach in 1939 and non-playing coach 1954-57.

Norm Matthews, 15 games with Melbourne 1935 and 1942-44, 28 games with South Melbourne 1938-1940. Brother of Herb Matthews.

Don Matthews, 31 games 1956-58.

Herb Matthews, 20 games with Melbourne 1961-1964, 82 games with South Melbourne 1964-1969: a solid defender, the son of J. Herbert.

Source: Jordan Laing, Sydney Media Release, Encyclopedia of League Footballers, ed. notes

HAWTHORN
ROY SIMMONDS (posthumous)
192 games, 1950-1961, vice captain 1955-1958, Hawthorn Team of the Century 2001: a tough, courageous quick, strong and versatile utility who could play as a rover, in the center and in defense. He missed a spot in the 1961 Premiership due to injury. He won the club's best and fairest in 1956 as well as representing Victoria in four games the same year. He served as chairman of selectors in 1971 and later was an assistant coach at Melbourne.

JACK HALE
Reserves Coach 1950, Senior Coach 1952-1959, coached a total of 146 games, Hawthorn Life Member 1959. Hale played 123 games with Carlton 1933-1941 as a fearless rover or back pocket. Represented Victoria in 1937 and was a member of Carlton's 1938 Premiership team. A badly broken leg with complications in 1941 ended his career at the age of 26. His first coaching stint was at South Melbourne 1948-49.

HARRY E. MILLER (posthumous), club trainer and physical therapist 1925-1978, club life member 1947

DAVID PARKIN
Elevated to Legend status. Parkin joins inaugural Legends John Kennedy Senior and Leigh Matthews (2003), Graham Arthur (2005), Michael Tuck (2008) and Peter Hudson (2010) as a Legend of the club.

Renowned for his mental and physical courage, Parkin played 211 games 1961-1974 and was a disciple of Coach John Kennedy's ruthless discipline. He was captain 1969-1973, Premiership player 1971, 1965 best and fairest and represented Victoria five times. Parkin, who has degrees in physical education, had a coaching stint with Subiaco in West Australia before succeeding John Kennedy as Hawthorn coach 1977-1980. He took the club to the 1978 Premiership, giving him the distinction of being the only person to captain and coach the Hawks to premierships. He crossed to Carlton in 1981 and took the club to the 1982 Premiership. He was fired at the end of 1985 and crossed to the struggling Fitzroy and took the Lions to third that year. He was again let go after three seasons. He then spent two years overseeing junior football in Victoria before returning to coach Carlton in 1991. He remained with the Blues, winning the 1995 premiership, until the end of 1999. He returned to Hawthorn in 2000 in the then unusual role of coaching director/advisor to senior coach Peter Schwab.

Source: Leah Mirabella, Hawthorn Media Release, Encyclopedia of League Footballers

COLLINGWOOD
The 1953 Premiership Team has been inducted into the club's Hall of Fame. It is recognition for the club's first Premiership in 17 years. Not only was it a drought-breaking win, but also an upset against the heavily favored Geelong, who had set a record of 26 games without a loss from Round 9, 1952 through Round 13, 1953 (there was one tied game in Round 11, 1952). The team included Lou and Ron Richards, Mick Twomey, George Harris, Arthur Gooch, Murray Weideman, Des Healy and Thorold Merrett. The late Bob Rose was represented by his widow Elsie. The team was coached by Phonse Kyne and Lou Richards was captain.

Weideman, an inaugural inductee to the club's Hall of Fame, spoke of the win, saying it was a "testament to the spirit and defiance typical of ... the (Collingwood) sides of that era ... it was a great thrill to end the ... drought." He pointed out how different the game was at the time to today's game "there were only six or seven rules ... we only trained Tuesday night and Thursday night ... there was no money ... in those days ... players were on about 10 pounds a game ... we didn't play for the money, it was ... about ... the love of the club."

Anthony Rocca and Bill Libbis were also inducted. Rocca played 22 games for Sydney 1995-96 before joining the Magpies where he played 220 games and led the club's goalkicking 2000, 2002, 2006-2007. He won the Darren Milane award in 2002 as best clubman and was a standout in the 2002 losing Grand Final.

Ron Libbis played 139 games 1925-1933 and was a speedy and talented rover. His teammate Gordon Coventry once described him as the best rover he had ever seen. Libbis was a member of the Magpies "Machine Team" which claimed Premierships in four consecutive seasons 1927-1930, a record which still stands. He represented Victoria four times. He was cleared to Melbourne after asking for, and being refused, a pay increase. He played 39 games with the Demons 1933-35.

Source: Stephen Rielly, Club Media Release, Encyclopedia of League Footballers