AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder tonight formally presented Geelong Cats' President Craig Drummond with the 2022 premiership flag, at the launch of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season in Melbourne.

The full text of Mr Goyder's speech is below, in which he welcomed the eight new Life Members of the game, and announced that broadcasting great Bruce McAvaney would be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame later this year in June.

Richmond's Trent Cotchin, North Melbourne's Todd Goldstein, West Coast's retired Josh Kennedy, St Kilda's retired Paddy Ryder and Collingwood's Steele Sidebottom received life membership for 300 total games across their playing careers, while McAvaney, former Collingwood President Eddie McGuire and women's football pioneer Lisa Hardeman were awarded life membership for special service to the game.

McAvaney will be inducted into the Hall of Fame for his 40-year broadcasting career, with the remaining inductees to be announced later this year, Mr Goyder said.

"Bruce is one of the leading broadcasters in our game's history and his voice is synonymous with the greatest moments of our national competition. He is a deserving life member of the game and his body of work as a caller makes him a worthy entrant into the Hall of Fame," Mr Goyder said.

Former two-time Grand Final umpire Glenn James was announced as this year's honouree for Sir Doug Nicholls Round. James umpired 166 games, including the 1982 and 1984 Grand Finals, while working across his lifetime within education and using his position within his communities as an advocate for social justice.

Mr Goyder's full speech
 
On behalf of the AFL Commission, welcome to the launch of the 2023 Toyota AFL Premiership Season.

We are meeting on the grounds of the Wurundjeri people and I pay my respects to their elders past, present and emerging.

I extend that respect to all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples here with us today.

We are exactly a week away from the first bounce next Thursday night between Richmond and Carlton.

The Grand Final last September was a wonderful welcome return to the MCG after two years where we relied on the support of the governments of Queensland and Western Australia to complete our seasons.

The MCG was packed on a sunny September afternoon with more than 100,000 people. The build-up was unbelievable and we were all reminded why the roar of the crowd at the ‘G is like nothing else in our game.

It is a privilege to stand before you tonight and say that our game is strong, and it is well positioned for the future.

Club membership continues to grow, due to the great work of our clubs, coaches, administrators and players, while the elite game on-field, for both men and women, is outstanding to watch.

Again, our players and coaches deserve great credit for ensuring our game continues to excite generations of fans.

At the community level, we have strong growth across Australia, rebounding from Covid - but - it's not consistent everywhere. We have much to do and we do not claim to be perfect, but we are up for the work.

To that end, the decision of the AFL Commission late last year to enshrine 10 per cent of our future spend around game development activities will help to ensure the base of our game is strong.

We must continue to bring children into our game. We must support community clubs and we will continue to drive the message that there is a place for everyone in our game, be that as a player, a coach, an umpire, an administrator, a fan, a member or a volunteer.

Our volunteers carry our game. I thank every one of them who not only develop the stars of our AFL and AFLW game but build a sense of joy and love for our game amongst so many right across the country.

It is also my honour tonight to announce that, as part of Sir Doug Nicholls Round, the former great to be acknowledged in 2023 for his contribution to our game both on and off the field, will be two-time Grand Final umpire Glenn James.

Glenn is:

  • A former Vietnam veteran who saw active service for his country,
  • Achieved the most games umpired at senior level by an Indigenous umpire, including the 1982 and 1984 VFL Grand Finals,
  • Contributed a lifetime of advocacy and work in his communities.

Can I please ask you to acknowledge Glenn James and his formidable contribution to our game across more than 50 years!

We will shortly induct our new Life Members, and welcome five playing greats of our game and three people for outstanding service.

I went off script a bit last year and announced that Bill Dempsey was going into the Hall of Fame. Again, I'm feeling hard-pressed to keep a big secret.

When we acknowledge a great career tonight by the magnificent Bruce McAvaney, who is receiving life membership, we should applaud him doubly as Bruce will also be going into the Hall of Fame later this year for his wonderful media career calling our greatest moments in our biggest games.

The other inductees we will keep a secret until June.

For matters on the field, I want to take this opportunity to congratulate Geelong Cats President Craig Drummond and the board, CEO Steve Hocking, coach Chris Scott, retired captain Joel Selwood and the Geelong players, and the supporters of the club for your achievement last year.

I also want to commend Sydney Swans' President Andrew Pridham, CEO Tom Harley, Senior Coach John Longmire, and acknowledge the Swans' players, board and staff for their brilliant presence in our game for NSW.

I want to thank our 18 clubs – their players, coaches and administrators – our umpires and officials at every level of the game and particularly thank the fans who cherish our game.

Along with my fellow Commissioners, it is a privilege to be involved in this game and I want to thank them, AFL CEO Gillon McLachlan and his executive team, and our entire football community for their love of the game.

It is now my great pleasure to present the 2022 premiership flag to Craig Drummond of the Geelong Cats Football Club.