Media Inducted
Inducted | Name | Profile | DOB |
2023 | Bruce McAvaney | Football broadcast history:
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 |
22/06/1953 |
2020 | Dennis Cometti | Played 38 games and scored 70 goals for West Perth: 1967-1971 Coached 65 games for West Perth: 1982-1984 Football broadcast history: 1972 – 1985: ABC Radio, 1986 – 2001: Seven Network, 2002 – 2006: Nine Network, 2007 – 2016: Seven Network, 2008 – 2011: 3AW, 2012 – Present: Triple M Appointed as a member of the Order of Australia (AM): 2019 Alf Potter Award: 2006 AFMA Television Caller of the Year on 11 Occasions Sport Australia Lifetime Achievement Award: 2018 Sport Australia Hall of Fame: 2019 Inducted into the MCG Hall of Fame Inducted into the AFMA Hall of Fame. |
26/03/1949 |
2011 | Tony Charlton | Worked for more than 50 years as a pre-eminent commentator, media performer, host and master of ceremonies. Called football for radio stations 3AW, 3UZ and 3AK and on television for Channel Seven, Channel Nine and ABC-TV. Hosted the Tony Charlton Football Show on Channel Nine, and conducted one of the most famous interviews in football history with sacked Melbourne coach Norm Smith in 1965. | 28/03/1929 |
2006 | Harry Beitzel | Former leading VFL umpire who later became a household name as a radio and television broadcaster.
Officiated in 153 games (1948-60), including the 1955 Grand Final and six state games. Later became VFL Director of Umpiring (1980-81). In the media he worked as a commentator for 3KZ (1961-71), 3AW (1972-88) and 3AK (1989-91). Beitzel was also an ABC television panellist (1961-71) and the editor of Footy Week (1965-71), and was the originator of the Gaelic contests between Australia and Ireland that started in 1967. |
6/04/1927 |
2000 | Geoff Christian | Chief football writer for the West Australian for 28 years, 1961-1988. | 13/10/1934 |
1996 | Ron Casey |
Best known by television viewers as the presenter of World of Sport which ran on the Seven Network for nearly 30 years. Played a leading role in the network's coverage of football for 30 years, including the introduction of direct telecasts from Sydney, night football, the Brownlow Medal count and live coverage of the Grand Final from 1977. President of the Kangaroos when he passed away in 2000. |
28/12/1927 |
1996 | R.W.E. Wilmot | Writing for The Argus in 1935, he was given an award by the AFL for 46 years of journalism. His work was characterised by authority, wisdom and generosity. | 4/10/1869 |
1996 | Norman Banks | A pioneer of football broadcasts on 3AW and 3KZ. In 1931, broadcast his first match from Princes Park standing on a ladder at the end of the dressing rooms. Broadcasting career spanned 60 years. |
12/10/1905 |
1996 | Hugh Buggy | Joined The Argus newspaper in 1917 and became a highly respected football writer. Became its chief football writer in 1951, after gaining wider experience elsewhere. Worked for suburban newspapers and continued to write football for the Advocate. Wrote several important club histories, including one on Carlton. | 9/06/1896 |
1996 | Hector DeLacy | Chief football writer on The Sporting Globe. Forthright and controversial, his style sometimes resulted in him being banned by clubs, but that did not deter him and he became one of the most widely read journalists from the 1940s. | 6/05/1900 |
1996 | Alf Brown | Chief football writer for The Herald newspaper in Melbourne, 1945-1979. Covered an estimated 1000 matches including 34 Grand Finals. Wrote very detailed match previews as a result of his ability to win the confidence and trust of club coaches. | 6/02/1914 |