2021 AFL Hall Of Fame

Just a few days after Round 23, the AFL held their annual Hall of Fame ceremonies. Two current members were elevated to Legend status and there were four new inductees. West Australian Merv McIntosh and legendary SANFL coach Jack Oatey were elevated. The inductees were Nathan Burke, Chris Judd, Rob Wiley, and footy female pioneer Debbie Lee. Lee is the first woman to be inducted. Former Sydney star Adam Goodes declined to be inducted, due to his feeling that the AFL failed to support him properly when he was subjected to radial vilification in the last two years of his career. Garry McIntosh, a dual SANFL premiership player in 1982 and 1984 and games’ record-holder for the Norwood, also declined entry, saying he had not played the game for personal honors.

A standout ruckman, Merv McIntosh played 217 games for Perth in a war-interrupted career between 1939-1955, winning a premiership in his final year. A three-time Simpson Medalist best-on-ground in state games involving WA) and Sandover Medalist (WA Brownlow equivalent), McIntosh also claimed Perth’s Best and Fairest award seven times in his 11-year career. His performance in the 1955 WAFL Grand Final was outstanding as he led his side to a two-point win after they trailed by 34 points at half-time.

Oatey was an excellent player but is recognized for his outstanding coaching career in the SANFL. Between Sturt and Norwood, he has 10 premierships to his name and coached over 500 games. He also had a stint at West Adelaide. The SANFL Grand Final best-on-ground medal is named in his honor. It was designated as such in 1981 while he was still coaching.

Debbie Lee was recognized for her years of service to the game as both player and then administrator. After a stellar on-field career, Lee led the creation of the first women’s team in Melbourne’s western suburbs (YCW Spurs), to her current role as General Manager, Women’s Football at the Western Bulldogs.

Judd was inducted in his first year of eligibility after a stellar career with West Coast and Carlton, Wiley was recognized as a great of the WAFL in the 1970s and 1980s. He was also a star for Richmond. Burke was a star for the Saints.

The 2021 AFL Hall of Fame selection panel was comprised of Tanya Armstrong, Graham Cornes, Ross Glendinning, Karen Lyon, Bruce McAvaney, Michael O’Loughlin, and David Parkin with AFL chairman Richard Goyder serving as selection chairman.

THE INDUCTEES

MERV McINTOSH (elevated to Legend)
217 games for Perth 1939-41 and 1946-1955
24 games for WA
Premiership, 1955
Best and fairest award 1946, 1947, 1948, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1954
Sandover Medal 1948, 1953, 1954
Simpson Medal winner 1952, 1953, 1955
Carnival All Australian, 1953
Tassie Medal 1953

JACK OATEY, AM (elevated to Legend)
162 games for Norwood, 1940-1941 and 1945-1952, 218 goals
19 games for Norwood-North (wartime league), 1942-1944, 15 goals
Five games for South Melbourne 1944, four goals
Seven games for SA, Captain in 1949 and 1950, coach in 1949, 1950 and 1959
Premierships 1941 (player), 1943 (player), 1946 (player-coach,) 1948 (player-coach), 1950 (player-coach)
Best and fairest winner 1940, 1941, 1942, 1945
Captain 1945-52
Coached Norwood 1945-1956, 229 games for 148 wins, 80 losses, one draw, and premierships 1946 1948 1950
Coached West Adelaide 1957-1960, 87 games for 59 wins, 28 losses
Coached Sturt 1962-1982, 470 games for 314 wins, 152 losses, four draws, and premierships 1966-1970, 1974 and 1976
Captain-Coach, rover in Norwood Team of the Century
Coach, Sturt Team of the century
SANFL Hall of Fame

DEBBIE LEE
302 VWFL games
Helen Lambert Medal for the VWFL competition best and fairest 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996 and 2001
Six-time All Australian
16 state games for Victoria
Six-time state captain for Victoria
Premiership player 1991 (East Brunswick Scorpions), 2004 and 2011 (Spurs)
Premiership Captain, 2004 (Spurs)
Lisa Hardeman Medalist (Best-on-ground in Grand Final) 1991 and 2004
Seven-time club best and fairest
Club captain at St. Albans Spurs from 1991-2004
VFL Women’s Rising Star medal has been named in her honor
The AFL’s National Championships best player award has been named in her honor
Member of AFL Women’s Advisory Group
Current General Manager, Women’s Football at the Western Bulldogs Football Club

CHRIS JUDD
279 games and 228 goals for West Coast and Carlton
Premiership captain, 2006
Brownlow Medalist, 2004 and 2010
Norm Smith Medal, 2005
AFL Players Association MVP 2006, 2011
Best and fairest 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2010
All Australian 2004, 2006, 2008 (captain), 2009 (vice-captain), 2010, 2011 (vice-captain)
Captain 2006-2007 (West Coast) 2008-2012 (Carlton)

NATHAN BURKE
323 games for St Kilda 1987-2003, 124 goals
11 games for Victoria
Best and fairest winner in 1993, 1996, 1999
All Australian in 1993, 1996, 1997, 1999
St Kilda Team of the Century
Captain 1996-2000

Rob Wiley
179 games for Perth 1974-78, 1984-88, 415 goals
95 games for Richmond 1979-83, 127 goals
18 games for West Coast 1987, 24 goals
14 games for WA, two games for Victoria
Premierships 1976 (WAFL), 1977 (WAFL), 1980 (VFL)
Best and fairest 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1984, 1985, 1986
All Australian 1984, 1986
Leading goalkicker 1976 1977
Captain 1985-86
Perth Team of the Century
Perth captain-coach 1988
Perth coach 1989
East Fremantle coach 2016-18
WAFL Hall of Fame
Perth team Hall of Fame, Legend

Source: Emma Francis, AFL Media Release