The AFL is once again preparing for its annual Australian Football Hall of Fame ceremony, a night filled with grandeur and reverence. The event will welcome the latest inductees, celebrating the game's greatest champions. However, a growing issue threatens to undermine the prestige of this honour.
The Problem of Over-Inclusion
The Hall of Fame is meant to represent the absolute best of the best—the rarest diamonds and the cream of the elite. Yet, critics argue that the selection committee has lost quality control. What should be a trickle of inductees has become an endless stream, as the committee scours history for forgotten figures.
While this Melbourne-based writer rarely concedes that rugby league does anything better than Australian Football, the Hall of Fame comparison is stark. The NRL Hall of Fame features only 14 Immortals. In contrast, the AFL already has 33 Legends, with Gary Ablett Jnr knocking on the door and Lance Franklin soon to follow.
Comparing Numbers
Yes, Australian Football has more players on the field, but that does not justify a larger number of champions. The AFL Hall of Fame includes 338 inductees (including Legends), whereas the NRL has 127 players (including six women), nine contributors, two coaches, and two referees.
The hard truth is that the number of AFL Legends could be cut by more than half without raising eyebrows outside of those emotionally connected to the removed names.
Awareness and Rules
The selection committee is somewhat aware of the issue. A rule exists that no more than 10 per cent of total inductees can become Legends, but even that seems high. Additionally, players must be retired for five years before consideration. Another rule once limited inductees to six per year, but that has been ignored as the committee continues to find new candidates.
While there will always be great players, greatness should not be sufficient for the Hall of Fame. For Legends, creating a new tier—such as Bronzed Legends or Immortals, borrowing from the NRL—could restore exclusivity. True icons like Ted Whitten, Ron Barassi, and Leigh Matthews would be elevated, setting a benchmark for the highest honour.
