Since 1996, well over 250 players and personalities have been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Each year, a further six names join this illustrious cast, but only after their credentials are crossed examined by a committee of astute judges.
The criteria for selection is said to include a player's record, ability, integrity, sportsmanship and character.
Additionally, eligibility for enshrinement only begins after a player has hung their boots up for at least five years.
In the words of the AFL themselves, โtheir [the players] identities are always a hotly debated topic and a fiercely protected secret.โ
With the intention of removing this veil of secrecy, we here at Zero Hanger have cast our minds back to find the players most suitable for selection from 2015's retiring class.
As just over a handful of names are chosen each year, it is highly unlikely that all six of the names listed will be inducted this year, but as they each meet the benchmarks for selection, it seems inevitable that all will each be included in due time.
4. Dustin Fletcher
1993-2015 โ 400 games (Essendon)
With a career spanning 23 seasons at Essendon, it should surprise nobody that Dustin Fletcher retired a decorated Don.
As only the third player in over 150 years of Australian Football to surpass the 400 game mark, fans of every club should not be perplexed to see the lanky defender's name on our list.
The consummate team player, Fletcher's list of achievements is almost as long as both his limbs or one of his torpedo punts.
From debuting as a schoolboy to retiring as a father, Fletcher managed a pair of All-Australian selections, night and day Premierships across his multi-generational span at Windy Hill.
The son of a gun also won the Bombers' best and fairest in their dominant Premiership year of 2000.
