Adelaide Football Club’s first chairman Bob Hammond has been inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Hammond, an inaugural inductee to the Adelaide Football Club’s Hall of Fame in April for his decade of service to the Crows, was tonight recognised for 50 years of involvement with the game at a State and national level.
His playing career started with SANFL club North Adelaide in 1960, when the key defender played in a premiership in his first season. While at North he represented South Australia at interstate level in a win over Victoria in 1963, one of eight times that he would represent his State.
Hammond played in two more flags with North (1971, 1972) in his 234 games for the club before moving to Norwood to coach. Her guided the Redlegs to two premierships (1975, 1978) in six seasons as coached and then spent a decade on the Norwood board.
He also coached South Australia to a State-of-Origin win over Victoria in 1983 and was a caretaker coach at the Sydney Swans in 1984.
Hammond was headhunted to join the AFC interim board late in 1990 and was chairman of SA’s first AFL club for the first ten years.
He then served an AFL Commissioner from 2001-2011. Last year, the Crows players’ race at Adelaide Oval was named in his honour.
Crows chairman Rob Chapman said: “Bob is a proud South Australian and very few people can lay claim to having such a profound influence on our great game.
“His vision and hard work put the Adelaide Football Club on the right path and has allowed it to grow and prosper.
“Everyone associated with our Club is grateful for his contribution and he deserves every accolade that comes his way.”
Five other people were inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame at the function – Jason Akermanis, Peter Bell, Bob Hammond, Michael O’Loughlin, Neil Roberts and Austin Robertson.
And the greatest goalkicker in VFL/AFL history, St Kilda and Sydney Swans’ full forward Tony Lockett, was named an official Legend of the Game.
The Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996 and serves to recognise players, coaches, umpires, administrators, and media representatives who have made an outstanding contribution to Australian football.
BOB HAMMOND BIO
PLAYING RECORD
• 234 games and 69 goals for North Adelaide, 1960 - 1973
• 14 games for Norwood, 1974 - 1975
• Captain of North Adelaide, 1973
• Captain of Norwood, 1974
PREMIERSHIPS
• Premiership coach of Norwood, 1975, 1978
• Premiership player North Adelaide 1960, 1971, 1972
MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA: 7
COACHING RECORD
• Coached Norwood, 1974-1979
• South Australian State Coach, 1983
• Coach of Sydney Swans, 1984
ADMINISTRATION
• Norwood Board member 1981-1990
• Chairman of Adelaide 1991-2000
• AFL Commissioner 2001-2011
ACHIEVEMENTS
• Player life member of the SANFL
• Life member North Adelaide
• Life member Norwood
• Life Member AFL
