AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder and Dian Ebert, the wife of newly elevated Hall of Fame Legend Russell Ebert, at the Australian Football Hall of Fame ceremony. Picture: AFL Photos

PORT Adelaide centreman Russell Ebert, named by the club as the greatest player in its history, was tonight elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

At tonight’s 2022 induction ceremony for the Hall of Fame in Melbourne, Ebert was named as the 32nd Legend in the history of the game, having played a club-record 392 games with the Magpies, as a three-time premiership player, four-time Magarey Medallist and six-time best and fairest.

Dian Ebert accepted the honour on behalf of her late husband, who passed away in late 2021.

Eight new members were welcomed into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, with their careers covering both the current national competition at AFL level and the histories of the state leagues in WA, SA and Tasmania. The eight new inductees are Terry Cashion, Bill Dempsey, Mike Fitzpatrick, Brent Harvey, Matthew Pavlich, Michael Taylor, Ted Tyson and Nicky Winmar. 

AFL games record-holder Brent Harvey has been recognised for his achievements as a Premiership Player and five-time Club Best and Fairest. Harvey was an E.J Whitten Medal recipient, a Jim Stynes medal recipient and also a four-time All Australian player.

Matthew Pavlich is the former Fremantle games record-holder with an impressive 700 goal tally and a six-time Club Best and Fairest. Pavlich was also a six-time All Australian.

Michael Taylor was celebrated with 289 games for Norwood (SA) as well as a six time Best and Fairest winner and nine-time SA team of the year recipient. Taylor has also been recognised as a Norwood Football Club Hall of Fame Legend.

The late Ted Tyson was celebrated with 228 games for West Perth and being named a two-time WAFL leading goalkicker and six-time Century goalkicker. Tyson was also named as a player in the West Perth Team of the Century.

Bill Dempsey who was also honoured as the 2022 Sir Doug Nicholls Round Honouree, was recognised for his achievements as a West Perth Team of the Century player and Indigenous Team of the Century player. Dempsey was a three-time NT Premership player and three-time WA Premership player as well as playing 343 games for West Perth which is the second most WAFL games ever played.

The late Terry Cashion was also recongised for his contribution as the Tasmanian Team of the Century and two-time Best and Fairest Clarance and three-time Best and Fairest Longford winner. Cashion played 14 games for Tasmania and received the Tassie Medal in 1950.

Mike Fitzpatrick celebrated a long history as an AFL Commissioner (2003 -2017) later becoming the AFL Chair (2008 - 2017). Fitzpatrick played 150 games with Carlton, kicking 150 goals as well as 97 games with Subiaco, 11 state games for Western Australia and two state games for Victoria.

Nicky Winmar was celebrated as a 309 game player, two-time Best and Fairest winner and three-time All Australia. Winmar was also selected in the St Kilda Team of the Century and Indigenous Team of the Century

AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder, the Chair of the Hall of Fame selection committee, thanked his fellow selectors people Tania Armstrong, Graham Cornes, Ross Glendinning, Karen Lyon, Paul Marsh, Alister Nicholson, Michael O'Loughlin, David Parkin, David Frith (Statistics & History Consultant) and Patrick Keane (Secretary) and said he was delighted get together again after two years apart forced by COVID. 

"I'm pleased to be able to celebrate tonight and also acknowledge the 2020 and 2021 inductees who tonight are able to join us in recognising their achievements," said Mr Goyder.

The committee considers candidates on the basis of record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character. The number of games played, coached or umpired or years of service is a consideration only and does not determine eligibility

Players are eligible only after they have been retired from the game for at least five years. Coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives are eligible only after retirement

Inductee Career Records:

Russell Ebert (deceased) - Elevated to Legend status (Player)

  • 392 games for Port Adelaide 1968-78, 1980-85, 295 goals.
  • 25 games for North Melbourne 1979, 15 goals
  • 29 games for SA, eight goals
  • Three-time Premiership player 1977, 1980, 1981
  • Four-time Magarey Medals recipient 1971, 1974, 1976, 1980
  • Six-time Best and Fairest winner 1971, 1972, 1974, 1976, 1977, 1981
  • Leading goalkicker 1968
  • Jack Oatey Medal 1981
  • Captain 1974-78 and 1983-85
  • Port Adelaide Greatest Team (Centre)
  • Coached Port Adelaide 116 games 1983-87, 64 wins, 52 losses
  • Coached Woodville 64 games 1988-90, 24 wins, 40 losses

Terry Cashion (deceased)

  • 193 games in New Town /Clarence /Longford /Sandy Bay / Tasmania 1939-40, 1946-54
  • Five games for South Melbourne 1942, five goals
  • 14 games for Tasmania.
  • 1947, 1950, 1953 Carnivals
  • Two-time Best and Fairest Clarence winner 1946, 1947
  • Three-time Best and Fairest Longford winner 1948, 1949, 1951
  • Two-time Best and Fairest Sandy Bay winner 1952, 1953
  • Premiership 1952 Sandy Bay
  • Tassie Medal 1950 (national carnival)
  • Leitch Medal (TFL) 1953
  • Tasmania Team of the Century (rover)

Bill Dempsey 

  • 343 games for West Perth, 1960-76, 89 goals (second-most WAFL games ever)
  • NTFL Player Darwin Buffaloes 1959-69, estimated 140 games
  • 14 games for WA
  • Three-time WA Premiership player 1969 1971 1975
  • Three-time NT Premiership player 1959 1960 1968
  • Simpson Medal 1969
  • West Perth Best and Fairest 1966
  • West Perth Captain 1973-76
  • Darwin Captain 1964-65
  • West Perth Team of the Century, Indigenous Team of the Century

Mike Fitzpatrick

  • 97 games with Subiaco 1970-74, kicking 77 goals
  • 150 games with Carlton 1975-83, kicking 150 goals
  • 11 state games for Western Australia 2 state games for Victoria (captain 1983)
  • Premierships 1973 (WAFL), 1979 (VFL), 1981 (VFL, captain) and 1982 (VFL, captain)
  • 1973, 1974, 1979 Best and Fairest
  • 1980-83 Captain
  • Director of Carlton Football Club, 1989-95
  • AFL Commissioner 2003-17
  • AFL Chair 2008-17

Brent Harvey

  • 432 games for North Melbourne, 518 goals (all-time AFL games record-holder)
  • 1999 Premiership
  • 2003, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010 Best and Fairest
  • 2000, 2005, 2007, 2008 All Australian
  • 1999 E.J. Whitten Medal
  • 2003 Jim Stynes Medal
  • 2009-2011 Captain

Matthew Pavlich

  • 353 games for Fremantle, 700 goals
  • 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2011 Best and Fairest
  • 2002, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008 All Australian
  • 2001, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2012 Club Leading Goalkicker
  • 2007-2015 Captain

Michael Taylor

  • 289 games for Norwood 1972-80 and 1985-87, 126 goals
  • 94 games for Collingwood 1981-84, 28 goals
  • 13 games for SA
  • Two-time Premiership player 1975, 1978 (captain)
  • National Champion player 1977
  • Six-time Best and Fairest winner 1973, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1985
  • Nine-time SA team of the year 1974, 1975, 1976, 1977, 1978, 1979, 1980, 1986, 1987
  • Captain 1978-80
  • Norwood FC Hall of Fame Legend
  • SA Coach 1993-94, West Adelaide Coach 1996-2000

Ted Tyson (Deceased)

  • 228 games West Perth 1930-45, 1203 goals at 5.25 goals per game average.
  • 4 games for WA
  • Four-time Premiership player 1932, 1934, 1935, 1941
  • Two-time WAFL leading goalkicker 1932, 1936
  • 11x Club leading goalkicker 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941
  • Six-time Century goalkicker 1934 (143), 1935 (119), 1937 (124), 1938 (126), 1939 (100), 1941 (111)
  • West Perth Team of the Century

Nicky Winmar

  • 309 games, 415 goals comprising 58 games / 98 goals for South Fremantle 1983-86, 230 games / 283 goals for St Kilda 1987-98, 21 games / 34 goals for Western Bulldogs 1999.
  • Eight games for WA, 10 goals
  • Two-time Best and Fairest winner 1989, 1995
  • Three-time All Australian 1989, 1991, 1995
  • Leading goalkicker 1988
  • St Kilda Team of the Century, Indigenous Team of the Century