Dual Adelaide premiership coach and South Australian football icon Malcolm Blight has been elevated to ‘Legend’ status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
On Tuesday night, Blight became the 27th Legend of the game and just the second South Australian behind Barrie Robran to earn the honour. He’s the first addition to the exclusive club since Sydney Swans and St Kilda great Tony Lockett in 2015.
Blight was one of 136 champions inducted in the Hall of Fame’s inaugural year in 1996.
One of the game's greatest players, Blight played 163 games for Woodville (1968-85) and 178 games for North Melbourne (1974-82).
He won the Magarey Medal in 1972 and the Brownlow Medal in 1978, also topping the VFL goalkicking with 103 in the 1982 season, thrilling crowds with his aerial prowess and magnificent kicking.
A dual premiership player with the Kangaroos (1975 and 1977), Blight was also a master coach. He took Geelong to three losing Grand Finals between 1989-94 before leading Adelaide to back-to-back flags in 1997 and 1998.
In a nice touch, Blight’s elevation to Legend was confirmed in Adelaide, which became just the second city outside Melbourne to host the prestigious Hall of Fame event.
Crows champion Simon Goodwin, who won two premierships under Blight, was one of six inductees on Tuesday night.
Sturt premiership captain John Halbert, who was a Chairman of Selectors in Adelaide's early years, Swans and Western Bulldogs star Barry Hall, respected North Melbourne former skipper Anthony Stevens, Collingwood goalkicker Ron Todd and long-serving umpire Brett Allen.
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.
Malcolm Blight Bio
162 games for Woodville, 1968-73 and 1983-85, kicking 363 goals.
178 games for North Melbourne, 1974-82, kicking 444 goals.
Seven games for South Australia, kicking 19 goals.
Seven games for Victoria, kicking 11 goals.
North Melbourne premierships 1975, 1977.
Woodville Best and Fairest 1972, 1985.
North Melbourne Best and Fairest 1978.
Woodville Leading Goalkicker 1983, 1985.
North Melbourne Leading Goalkicker 1978, 1979, 1981, 1982.
Magarey Medallist 1972.
Brownlow Medallist 1978.
John Coleman Medallist 1982.
Ken Farmer Medallist 1985.
All Australian 1972 (carnival), 1982, 1985 (carnival).
Woodville captain 1983-85.
North Melbourne Team of the Century, Half Forward.
North Melbourne coach 1981, 16 games.
Woodville coach 1983-87, 114 games.
Geelong Cats’ coach 1989-94, 145 games.
Adelaide Crows’ coach 1997-99, 74 games.
St Kilda coach 2001, 15 games.
Adelaide Crows premierships 1997, 1998.
