2023 AFL Hall of Fame

The AFL held their annual Hall of Fame induction ceremony in late June. This year's inductees were South Australian player Michael Aish. James Bartel, Corey Enright, South Australian Tom Leahy, broadcaster Bruce McAvaney, Sam Mitchell, and Mark Williams. Bartel and Enright were inducted together due to their roles as teammates at Geelong during the Cats' dominant period\d and premiership success (see details below). Former St Kilda champ Nick Riewoldt was also a candidate this year, but will be inducted next year when he and his family return from living in the USA (his wife is an American from Texas). Players are eligible after five years of retirement. Coaches, umpires, administrators, and media representatives are eligible after retirement.

THE INDUCTEES

MICHAEL AISH

307 games for Norwood 1979-93, 449 goals
Captain in 15 games 1986 and 1989
Magarey Medal 1981 (SANFL Brownlow equivalent)
Premierships 1982 and 1984
3 All Australian 1983, 1984 and 1986
Norwood best and fairest 1981, 1983, 1984 and 1992
Fos Williams Medal 1983 (best on ground in state or origin games)
Norwood Hall of Fame Legend
SANFL Hall of Fame

JAMES BARTEL

305 games for the Geelong Cats, 202 goals
2007, 2009, 2011 Premierships
2007, 2008 All Australian
2007 Brownlow Medal
2011 Norm Smith Medal
AFL Life Member

COREY ENRIGHT

332 games for the Geelong Cats, 66 goals
2007, 2009, 2011 Premierships
2009, 2011 Best and Fairest
2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2016 All Australian
Geelong FC Legend Status 2022
AFL Life Member

TOM LEAHY

(deceased)
169 SANFL games, comprising West Adelaide (58 games, 1905-09) and North Adelaide (111 games, 1910-15 and 1919-21)
31 games for SA (Captain 1919-21, played every possible game bar one during his career)
Magarey Medal 1913 (Runner-up 1908 1909 1911)
Premierships 1908, 1909, 1920
1908 national champions
3x Best and Fairest 1911 1914 1919
Captain 1915, 1919-21
2x Premiership coach Norwood 1922 1923
SANFL Hall of Fame

BRUCE MCAVANEY

Began calling with Channel 7 in Adelaide in 1978
Lead SANFL caller 1981-83
1983-89 with Network Ten
1989 - 2020 – Channel 7
Called more than 1000 AFL games, including 20 Grand Finals
Brownlow Medal host and Network Major Host for all key AFL / industry events
AFL Life Member
Sport Australia Hall of Fame

SAM MITCHELL

329 games for Hawthorn and West Coast, 71 goals
2008 (captain), 2013, 2014, 2015 Premierships
2012 Brownlow Medal
2006, 2009, 2011, 2012, 2016 Best and Fairest
2008, 2010, 2013, 2015 Top Three Best and Fairest
2011, 2013, 2015 All Australian
2008-10 Captain
AFL Life Member

MARK WILLIAMS

377 games for 377 goals comprising West Adelaide (1976-78, 65 games, 37 goals), Port Adelaide (1979-80 and 1990-92, 111 games, 104 goals), Collingwood (1981-86, 135 games, 178 goals) and Brisbane Lions (1987-90, 66 games, 58 goals). Also six games for Windsor-Zillmere (1988).
Eight games for SA, one game for Victoria, one game for Queensland.
Premierships 1979, 1980, 1990, 1992 (all with Port Adelaide). Also 1988 QAFL premiership.
Collingwood Best and Fairest 1981, 1985
All Australian 1980 (carnival) and 2004 (AFL premiership coach)
Collingwood Leading Goalkicker 1984
Collingwood Captain 1983-86
Coached Glenelg (SANFL) 1993-94, 45 games for 22 wins, one draw, 22 losses
Coached Port Adelaide (AFL) 1999-2010, 256 games for 142 wins, two draws, 112 losses.
2004 Premiership / AFLCA Coach of the Year
2001 and 2001 Pre-Season Premierships
Senior assistant roles Essendon, Port Adelaide, GWs Giants, Richmond and Melbourne.
AFLCA Lifetime Achievement Award
Life Member at the AFL, SANFL, Port Adelaide FC, Collingwood FC

In a related story, Barry Cable  has been stripped of all of his Hall of Fame honors by the WAFL, the AFL, and North Melbourne after being found guilty of inappropriate relations with a 12-year old girl during his playing days in West Australia. The alleged abuse went on for several years. The woman came forward recently to make the accusations and testified that Cable told her at the time no one would believe here if she said anything. Cable played for Perth from 1962-1969 and 1971-1973 and for North Melbourne in 1970 and 1974-1977. Cable denied the allegations in civil court. No criminal charges were filed.

SOURCE: afl.com.au, AFL Record Season Guide, theguardian.com.au