PDA

View Full Version : SydneyAFL Hall of Fame Inductees



Troy G
5th September 2003, 09:52 PM
The AFL (NSW/ACT) Commission will induct 10 inaugural members into the Sydney AFL Players Hall of Fame on Monday week.

The special presentation will take place at the Phelan/Snow Awards night on Monday, September 15.

Of the ten to be inducted, six are deceased and their family members have been asked to attend the presentation in their honour.

The foundation of a Sydney AFL Players Hall of Fame Award coincides with the Centenary year for the Sydney AFL - celebrating 100 years of Australian Football in Sydney.

The award will recognize those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game of Australian Football, as a player or administrator, since it began in 1903.

A Sydney AFL Players Hall of Fame selection committee was formed and made recommendations, along with the Sydney AFL clubs, to the AFL (NSW/ACT) Executive.

In its inaugural year there will be a maximum of ten members inducted into the Hall of Fame and for each subsequent year there will be a maximum of three members inducted.

Selection criteria
? The level of service and overall contribution to the game.
? The number of playing years shall be a consideration but shall not be the sole determining factor in assessing a person?s eligibility.
? A player may only be eligible to be inducted as a Hall of Fame member once they have been retired from playing for a minimum period of three years.
? A member of the selection committee may be a candidate but shall not vote for their induction as a Players? Hall of Fame member.
? Only those who have played in a senior competition in Sydney will be eligible.

The 10 inaugural inductees are listed below, along with a brief history of their involvement in the game.

Ralph Robertson (played between 1903-1914)
Born in England in 1883, Ralph came to Melbourne aged two. He played junior football, and in 1899, aged 16 years, he was selected to play with St Kilda until end 1900. In 1902 he moved to Sydney to work and played rugby. When the NSW League was reformed in 1903 he became Vice Captain and later Captain of East Sydney in 1905-6. In 1909 he transferred to the North Shore Club where he subsequently captained the side from 1911-14. He captained NSW on twelve occasions between 1904 - 14 from eighteen appearances, apart from the three Australian Carnival Teams where he captained NSW in each: 1908 in Melbourne, 1911 in Adelaide & 1914 in Sydney. He played in the 1903 East Sydney premiership team and North Shore premiership side of 1911. Although accepted in the 1st AIF, Ralph resigned to enlist in the British Army as a lieutenant. He was subsequently killed in a flying accident over Egypt on secondment to the Royal Flying Corps. But for the occasional mention in Jim Phelan?s subsequent writings on Sydney Football, Ralph Robertson?s feats and accomplishments would have been lost forever. His record demonstrates that he was truly an outstanding footballer of his time.


Jack Dean (played between 1944-1982)
Born in Sydney and due to his father?s influence (Joe Dean also played for Easts) he joined the Eastern Suburbs Football Club at the age of 16 years. Jack was chosen to play for NSW as a 17-year-old and became a driving force as a ruckman at Eastern Suburbs, going onto to represent NSW on 25 occasions. He played in East's premiership teams between 1953-58, and coached Ardlethan FC in the Riverina from 1959-60, before returning to coach Eastern Suburbs in 1961. In 1962 Jack crossed to Sydney Naval and played there until he retired in 1966. He won four Best & Fairest Awards and was runner up on four occasions with East's, and in 1958 won the Best & Fairest Trophy representing NSW in the Centenary Carnival in Melbourne. Later, he became a State Selector for 12 years. Jack was President of East's from 1970-82 during which the club won six premierships. He received the ANFC Merit Award for Service to Australian Football in 1977. Jack was involved with East's Juniors as a coach and was Junior State Selector for the NSW Under 15 Shell Cup and Manager on several Shell Cup Interstate trips. In a career spanning 20 years, Jack played 310 games for Easts, 45 for Sydney Naval, 40 for Ardlethan and 25 for NSW. He also won Best & Fairest Awards for NSW against Western Australia, Queensland and ACT during his career.


Stan Milton (played between 1919-1940)
Kicked in excess of 1200 goals in Sydney football between 1919 -1938 - more than any other player to this day. Stan came to Sydney from Melbourne in 1919 as a 17-year-old and played for Paddington. He transferred to East Sydney in 1922 but returned to Paddington in 1923 before playing for Eastern Suburbs after both clubs combined in 1926. He headed the SFL goalkicking in 1922, 1924-25, 1927 & 1933 and more than likely in seasons 1920 & 26(incomplete). He played for Eastern Suburbs against Geelong in 1927 booting an amazing 10 goals on the leading VFL fullback of the time, Jocka Todd. Stan represented NSW on 26 occasions kicking 151 goals. He was secretary of Eastern Suburbs between 1931- 34, a state selector in 1939 and went onto to coach Rosebery in the Metropolitan Football Assn in 1940. He also played midweek in the Tramways Assn in the 20s and 30s. His was an outstanding career in the twenties with hardly a NSW team chosen without his inclusion.

Roy Hayes (played between 1943-64)
Came to Sydney during WW II from Perth and played over 300 games with Eastern Suburbs in a 20-year period, which included 22 NSW State appearances. He is widely recognized as one of the best players to have played in Sydney in the 1950s. Roy coached the senior team and during his time at Easts passed on his knowledge and skills to hundreds of budding young players. Roy was the engine room in the Eastern Suburbs premiership teams of 1953-59 who finished runner-up in 1947, 1949 and 1951. Roy Hayes was Mr Eastern Suburbs during his time at the club.

Jimmy Stiff (played between 1929-37)
One of the most dynamic rovers of his period. Born at Mascot in 1911, Jimmy went to Gardeners Road Public School, a nursery for Australian Rules Footballers and during his time there played in several schoolboy state teams, twice as captain. As a senior, he represented NSW on nine occasions, though following selection, missed his first game for the state at aged 17 through injury. A fearless player, Jimmy was awarded best on ground in a match against Victoria in 1931. At the All States Carnival in Sydney in 1933, he was judged the best player of the Carnival winning the Major Condor Trophy. Jimmy was considered by many observers as the best player of the decade. He played in the South Sydney premierships of 1934-35 and grand final sides of 1932, 1936-37. He also won the league?s reserve grade best & fairest medal in 1928 at age 17. Jimmy played first grade rugby league with South Sydney and again injury caused him to miss the 1937-38 Kangaroos tour of England. He represented NSW in schoolboy cricket and played first grade for the Glebe Club. He was judged by Frank Dixon, the former South Sydney and state coach and Eastern Suburbs FC official, and Jack Hammond, life member of the league, as one of the best players they had ever seen.

Jack Williamson (played between 1932-41)
Won four Phelan Trophies (Medals) 1933, 1935, 1937-38 and represented NSW on 20 occasions. Played at centre half back where he continuously repelled the attack from his own goal. Born at Kyabram Victoria in 1913, he moved to Leeton NSW with his family as a boy where he played junior football and then sought work in Sydney during the depression. He was a scrupulously fair player and well liked by his peers.

Harry Free (played between 1947-63)
A legendary player with the Newtown Club in the forties and fifties. Began his first grade career in 1947, initially as a back pocket but alternated between that position and fullback. In over 380 club games he won a number of best and fairest awards with the Newtown Club and went on to play 19 games for NSW over a 15 year period. He was very much respected as a footballer and one of the first chosen in representative teams. He finished third in the Phelan Medal in 1952 and again in 1959. Harry played in premierships with Newtown in 1945-50. He is considered by many as one of the best local products to ever play football in Sydney.

Col Harris (played between 1946-70)
Col played a club record 347 games for the St George club from 1946 until 1970. He had several stints as both captain-coach & non-playing coach including 1970, the year he retired. The highlight was leading the Saints to the 1964 premiership which he also coached. He was a regular State and Sydney representative player and played a total of seven games for NSW. Prior to joining St George, Col played for Queanbeyan (1942-43) in the ACT League and 10 games for Subiaco in the WAFL in 1944 whilst serving in the RAAF. A highly respected player and person, Col is regarded as St George?s best-ever player in a golden-era of football in Sydney.

W R ?Billy? McKoy (played between 1924-35)
A wingman from Albury who played with the Sydney Club, Billy represented NSW on a record 31 occasions, more than any other player. He won the Phelan Trophy (Medal ? then called the Provan Trophy) in 1928 & 29. Played in Sydney?s premiership teams of 1925 & 31.

Rod Podbury (played between 1980 -93)
Rod Played with Bankstown and later Campbelltown in the Sydney AFL. He won the Phelan Medal in 1983, 1986-87 and 1990, and was runner up once, and third on two occasions. Represented NSW on six occasions and was instrumental in the Campbelltown Club?s dominance in the SFL in the late 1980s. He played in Campbelltown premierships in 1986-89.

gossipcom
9th September 2003, 10:49 AM
Congrats to all the inductees especially Col Harris!