When Ben Hart made his AFL debut at 17, the thought of one day entering the Australian Football Hall of Fame was inconceivable.

It became a reality on Tuesday night.

Perhaps it shouldn't have been a surprise. Lining up in the SANFL for the first time at just 16 was a sign of his ability and potential.

However, the idea that he could one day be acknowledged as one of the game's greats never entered his mind.

"When it all happened, it just sort of flowed, and it was the natural progression for me to play SANFL, and then play AFL when it came around," Hart said.

"But to be recognised tonight is really overwhelming. It's good in the same way because it shows that you've had a contribution to AFL footy, and I'm really proud of it, and just so thankful that it happened."

AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick notified the Collingwood backline coach of his honour on the morning of a Magpies game a few weeks ago.

He doesn't remember the Pies' opposition that day, but he can recall the conversation with Fitzpatrick perfectly.

"As soon as the phone call came and I saw his name I thought, 'Something's up'," Hart said.

"I was wondering what I did wrong.

"I wasn't sure if I gave him too much (in the conversation), because I was a bit shocked.

"I'll remember that moment for a long time. I was standing at my office, in the front of my house, getting ready to go to a game."

When he hung up the phone, it all came flooding back. Memories from the 311 matches in which he represented the Crows returned – memories that had been pushed aside as he moved on to the next stage of his life.

"It does flood back a little bit. When you finish playing, or when I finished playing, you kind of move into your next chapter. For me, it was coaching," he said.

"So then when that comes up, you do start thinking, and Mike mentions your career, and about what you did, and when you did certain things.

"It does come back and the memories start flooding in and you realise how great it was, and that you actually miss it as a player.

"That was really good, and then to see (the highlights package), that was pretty awesome.

"If I could do it tomorrow I would, but I'd be a bit too old now."

Going up against the likes of Tony Lockett and Jason Dunstall was as daunting a prospect a backman could face, particularly for someone so young.

Hart, though, was confident he could at least match them, and that confidence was justified and recognised early, with two of his four All Australian selections coming in the first two seasons.

"I didn't think I was going to beat them at all, and I probably didn't, but I wanted to have a go at it, and I wanted to try my wares against the best," he said.

"That was probably me a little bit – to compete as hard as I could against the best, and to see where I stand.

"It was a great era for me to play in, because it taught me so much about the game."