The Australian Football Hall of Fame, established in 1996 during the centenary year of the AFL, serves to honour the outstanding contributions made to Australian rules football by players, umpires, coaches, administrators, and media personalities.
Starting with 136 inductees, the Hall has grown to include more than 300 members, including 32 "Legends" who represent the pinnacle of excellence in the sport.
Despite the extensive and esteemed list of inductees, several noteworthy players have yet to be recognised with the honour. Here we highlight six exceptional footballers who, despite their remarkable achievements and impact on the game, remain conspicuously absent from the Hall of Fame.
These players appeared to demonstrate the worthy skill, leadership, and dedication throughout their careers and for some, their exclusion is a point of contention, anticipation or misfortune within the football community.
In this piece we will explore the careers of these six deserving individuals who still await their place in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
3. Dustin Fletcher
Dustin Fletcher, the embodiment of endurance and excellence in Australian rules football, left an indelible mark on the sport during his extraordinary 23-season career with the Essendon Football Club.
From the moment he was drafted by the club in 1992, Fletcher's potential was evident. Making his debut against Carlton while still in high school, he quickly became a vital component of the "Baby Bombers" premiership side of 1993.
At just 18, he showcased prodigious talent by winning a Longest Kick competition, foreshadowing some of the major highlight plays created by his powerful boot - an attribute that would become a hallmark of his illustrious career.
Fletcher's career is distinguished not just by its length but by its consistent excellence. He played a total of 400 senior AFL games, the fifth-highest in league history, and holds the record for the longest career span in the AFL, clocking in at 22 years and 58 days. His ability to perform at the highest level well into his late thirties and early forties is a feat never seen in our gruelling competition.
A key player in Essendon's 2000 premiership team also, Fletcher's stellar season was capped off with the Crichton Medal for the club's best and fairest and an All-Australian selection. His ability to read the play and and his signature barrel, was highly regarded by coach Kevin Sheedy. The torpedo punts, some among the longest in AFL history, were not just crowd-pleasers but also game-changers.
Despite the shadow cast by the 2012 supplements scandal, which led to a suspension that ultimately had no bearing on his already-established career, Fletcher's legacy remains untarnished.
