Hall of Fame - SA or SANFL

Should the Hall of Fame be as it is for SA Football, including AFL careers of SA footballers, or restricted to SA Football only?

I think Halls of Fame should pertain to a competition, i.e the AFL, the SANFL, rather than to a state. I don't think any other state has a state-based Hall of Fame does it? Players like Hart etc have the opportunity to be inducted into the AFL Hall of fame if good enough. The SANFL should have its own distinct Hall of Fame.

Without the SANFL, virtually none of those inducted would have had the opportunity to commence a career on a national stage. I don't have any issue with the current format of the Hall of Fame in that case.

The overwhelming feeling on the night was that each inductee spoke mainly about their football upbringing in SA, regardless of where they played most of their footy. They acknowledged their AFL clubs, but their stories of their local footy experiences was what made the night such an enjoyable event.

It's a difficult question now that the AFL comp is established as the pinnacle of a footballer's career. It can come down to a nit-picking exercise if it's restricted to SANFL, local and country football. For example, everyone was happy that KG was recognised, but he would have spent most of the last 20 years talking about AFL footy.

Given the structure of football now, to restrict inductees to 'non-AFL' careers, would mean so many SA greats of the game aren't recognised. It's an SA Football Hall of Fame, not an SANFL Hall of Fame.

I had no problem with any of the inductees. They are all SA Football greats, from an over 80 year old Don McSweeney from the West Coast, to Mark Ricciutto.

An SA Football Hall f Fame that excludes Gavin Wanganeen or Andrew McLeod is all the poorer for doing so, IMO.

Well call me a stick-in-the-mud but I'd prefer to see Bob Loveday inducted into a SANFL Hall of Fame for playing 227 games for West Adelaide than seeing Matthew Pavlich inducted into a SA Football Hall of Fame (as he undoubtedly will) for playing 300 games for Fremantle.

You're a stick-in-the-mud, Flaggie

Seriously, I agree with you about Bob Loveday, of course, but I think there's room for both.

What will happen if Dangerfield plays all his footy at the Crows wins a flag , Brownlow etc . Will his playing record get him a spot ?
The answer to the question is to know the selection criteria .If it says you have to be a South Australian well that's one arguement but if it says play/contribute to footy in SA , thats another arguement.

Flag No.9 wrote:Well call me a stick-in-the-mud but I'd prefer to see Bob Loveday inducted into a SANFL Hall of Fame for playing 227 games for West Adelaide than seeing Matthew Pavlich inducted into a SA Football Hall of Fame (as he undoubtedly will) for playing 300 games for Fremantle.

Agree 100%. Wouldn't it be nice to have something that is totally devoid of AFL consideration for a change?

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Flag No.9 wrote:Well call me a stick-in-the-mud but I'd prefer to see Bob Loveday inducted into a SANFL Hall of Fame for playing 227 games for West Adelaide than seeing Matthew Pavlich inducted into a SA Football Hall of Fame (as he undoubtedly will) for playing 300 games for Fremantle.

Agree 100%. Wouldn't it be nice to have something that is totally devoid of AFL consideration for a change?

Well then technically, the AFL Hall of Fame could/should kick out those SA players that never even made it across to Vic, as the AFL is the VFL in disguise, isn't it? All those SA players they poached for their clubs should be given the boot too!

Why? The AFL is a national competition.

As it's a South Australian Hall of Fame and not a SANFL Hall of Fame, it would seem strange that Mark Ricciutto should miss out when he's played all his football in SA.

So the debate then becomes the 'Pavlich' question.

If you had an Australian Athletes Hall of Fame, would no-one get in it because their major achievements were generally all overseas. I know that's drawing a long bow, but it would apply across many sports.

redandblack wrote:As it's a South Australian Hall of Fame and not a SANFL Hall of Fame, it would seem strange that Mark Ricciutto should miss out when he's played all his football in SA.

Technically, he's played half his footy outside of SA

Correct weight, AH

C.K wrote:Without the SANFL, virtually none of those inducted would have had the opportunity to commence a career on a national stage. I don't have any issue with the current format of the Hall of Fame in that case.

This I agree with. Word for word.

redandblack wrote:As it's a South Australian Hall of Fame and not a SANFL Hall of Fame, it would seem strange that Mark Ricciutto should miss out when he's played all his football in SA.

So the debate then becomes the 'Pavlich' question.

If you had an Australian Athletes Hall of Fame, would no-one get in it because their major achievements were generally all overseas. I know that's drawing a long bow, but it would apply across many sports.

I don't think that analogy holds R&B because the Australian athlete is representing Australia, not an overseas country.
Really, I'm not that fussed by all of this, I just wish there was some more emphasis on SANFL players' achievements rather than AFL players who already have their own Hall of Fame.

Fair enough, F9, but are there deserving SANFL players who have missed out?

I'd have to research that a bit r&b but Loveday would be one. 227 SANFL games (I think the 2nd highest at the club), State player, coach, runner.

This is being made hard for nothing. Like I said earlier, what's the criteria to get in .

I think the question of the criteria for induction is an interesting one.

It can't be that you were born in SA, as McLeod was born in Darwin.

It can't be that you started your senior footy career in SA, as Tim Evans wouldn't have been inducted.

And it can't be that you played a significant role for a SA club, as Andrew McKay played just 44 games for Glenelg, and 244 for Carlton.

So what is it?

waddayamean wrote:Like I said earlier, what's the criteria to get in?

Flag No.9 wrote:think the question of the criteria for induction is an interesting one.

Email the SANFL, they may advise you what the criteria is, perhaps?

Flag No.9 wrote:I think the question of the criteria for induction is an interesting one.

It can't be that you were born in SA, as McLeod was born in Darwin.

It can't be that you started your senior footy career in SA, as Tim Evans wouldn't have been inducted.

And it can't be that you played a significant role for a SA club, as Andrew McKay played just 44 games for Glenelg, and 244 for Carlton.

So what is it?

You are posing questions that I've been asking myself. There seems to be now rhyme not reason behind induction into this Hall of Fame, and the Andrew McKay situation is a classic example as to why I'm confused about it as well.

It just seems to be if you spent any time whatsoever in SA, then went on to great careers elsewhere, you are eligible, and that just doesn't make sense to me.

This is from the SANFL website:

"The South Australian Football Hall of Fame enshrines those who have made a most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football. "

Where's Ted Whitten and Ron Barassi then?

Flag No.9 wrote:This is from the SANFL website:

"The South Australian Football Hall of Fame enshrines those who have made a most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football. "
Where's Ted Whitten and Ron Barassi then?

Very confusing indeed--Open to anyone who contributed at any level.

They way I see it the SA Football Hall of Fame should be for people who make the most significant contribution to South Australian Football.

Can't argue with any of the inductees this week, all very deserving.

Where SA born & bred players who have a great interstate career used to still contribute to South Australian Football was when they came back to play for SA in interstate games (ie Kernahan, Bradley, Platten etc).

David McKay from memory did get to play in some of those final SOO matches.

As for someone like say Adam Cooney. Bryce Gibbs even Mat Pavlich it will be interesting what happens down the track given their last SA appearence was in Under 18's.


Coming up you would hope someone like Roy Laird would be a walk up start for the SAFHOF when he retires, his 7 premierships in 9 years up with just about any other coach already inducted.

Then there are multi prem players like Slade and the Gowans, Paul Thomas etc or major B&F winners like Mark McKenzie (5 at the Eagles) or Tim Weatherald possibly the last SANFL player to ever break 300 games, How about Brant Chambers who finished about #6 on the all time goal kicker list, James Allan and his 3 Magarey's.

Personally I'd like to see Dennis Browne get in there one day, 44 straight years, well over 1,200 games (not out) covering SANFL on radio and a mentor in is panel show producer role to so many young media people and players coming through the ranks over such a long time.

Given it's run by the SANFL you would hope that it won't end up requiring an AFL career to be deemed to have made a significant contribuition to South Australian Football.

Adelaide Hawk wrote:

Flag No.9 wrote:Well call me a stick-in-the-mud but I'd prefer to see Bob Loveday inducted into a SANFL Hall of Fame for playing 227 games for West Adelaide than seeing Matthew Pavlich inducted into a SA Football Hall of Fame (as he undoubtedly will) for playing 300 games for Fremantle.

Agree 100%. Wouldn't it be nice to have something that is totally devoid of AFL consideration for a change?

Me too.
It seems odd if you get inducted to 2 different Halls of Fame for essentially the same career in the case of AFL players.