Australian Football Hall of Fame: 2026 inductees to be unveiled; new Legend to be celebrated

0
3
7.18pm

Legend Bill Walker was named in February

Swan Districts’ great Bill Walker – the only man in WA football history to have won four Sandover Medals – would be elevated to Legend status, the AFL announced in February.

Walker debuted for Swan Districts in 1961, in the era of representative football before State of Origin, and played in premiership sides in each of his first three seasons at senior level.

Across 305 games in the WAFL, as well as 21 games for WA, he was a five-time best and fairest winner and claimed the Sandover Medal four times – in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1970.

“Bill Walker was an incredible player, one of the greatest in West Australian football history, and I’m delighted to announce the AFL Commission has endorsed the recommendation of the Hall of Fame selection committee that he be elevated to Legend Status later this year,” said Richard Goyder, then AFL commission chairman, earlier this year.

7.14pm

Vote: Your weekend thoughts

7.09pm

Early arrivals on the ‘blue carpet’

Adelaide champion Andrew McLeod and his wife Rachael.AFL Photos
Former Collingwood champion and coach Nathan Buckley.AFL Photos
Matthew Richardson and his wife, Genevieve.AFL Photos
6.59pm

Neale Daniher state funeral details

By Bridget McArthur

Speaking of footy legends, Neale Daniher will be remembered with a state funeral at the MCG tomorrow.

The ex-Essendon player turned Demons coach, who was named Australian of the Year in 2025, died last month aged 65 after a 13-year-battle with motor neurone disease (MND).

Friends, family, fans, and people from across the AFL and MND research community will file into the stadium from 12pm tomorrow for the service, which begins at 1pm.

Neale Daniher the Melbourne coach in 1997.Archives

Anyone interested in joining the celebration in person will need to secure a free ticket in advance via Ticketek.

Entry is via gate two and the G-Train mobility shuttle service will be operating for patrons requiring assistance closer to the ground.

6.50pm

Podcast: Hot out of the recording studio

If you want to hear the thoughts of our podcasters after Monday’s King’s Birthday clash? Tune in right here.

6.49pm

Good evening and welcome

By Scott Spits

Hello footy fans. It’s that AFL night of nights on again for another year – the latest inductees in the Australian Football Hall of Fame are to be unveiled. That’s right – it’s not just an AFL recognition. Footy stars from states across Australia are recognised in the hall of fame.

Another Legend will be named. But the identity of that champion player was already known. Swan Districts’ great Bill Walker – the only man in WA footy history to will four Sandover Medals – will be recognised at tonight’s function at Crown Casino in Melbourne.

Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au