Source : the age
It’s a Western Australia star, Bill Walker, who was named as a new Legend back in February. Walker is his 80s but is at the function, and is about to speak to the crowd.
Walker says he defied his father’s orders and went north in WA to play in the bush.
“Football started very young,” he said.
“It was either play seniors or not play.”
Walker played in flags in his first three seasons after making his debut in 1961. A classic rover-forward, he kicked 456 goals in 305 matches with Swan Districts and played 21 state matches for Western Australia. He finished his career in 1975 as a four-time premiership player and five-time club best and fairest.
It was quite an event on the footy calendar yesterday.
Collingwood star and Brownlow medallist Dane Swan stole the show with a classic speech at this function in 2024.
He made several references to Swan’s close friends, and his prized “rat pack”.
Two years ago he said the biggest thing he missed from footy was spending time with his teammates, even though they had an annual catch up each December – something he relishes.
“If me having to win this thing [getting in the hall of fame] gets us all here [in the room] tonight, well, I’m obviously happy to do it,” Swan said then.
“Finally, to my family … for supporting me throughout the years … they rode the bumps a little bit harder than what I did.”
Swan Districts great Bill Walker – the only man in WA football history to have won four Sandover Medals – would be elevated to Legend status, the AFL announced in February.
Walker debuted for Swan Districts in 1961, in the era of representative football before State of Origin, and played in premiership sides in each of his first three seasons at senior level.
Across 305 games in the WAFL, as well as 21 games for WA, he was a five-time best and fairest winner and claimed the Sandover Medal four times – in 1965, 1966, 1967 and 1970.
“Bill Walker was an incredible player, one of the greatest in West Australian football history, and I’m delighted to announce the AFL Commission has endorsed the recommendation of the hall-of-fame selection committee that he be elevated to Legend status later this year,” said Richard Goyder, then AFL commission chairman, earlier this year.
Speaking of footy legends, Neale Daniher will be remembered with a state funeral at the MCG tomorrow.
The ex-Essendon player turned Demons coach, who was named Australian of the Year in 2025, died last month aged 65 after a 13-year-battle with motor neurone disease (MND).
Friends, family, fans, and people from across the AFL and MND research community will file into the stadium from 12pm tomorrow for the service, which begins at 1pm.
Anyone interested in joining the celebration in person will need to secure a free ticket in advance via Ticketek.
Entry is via gate two and the G-Train mobility shuttle service will be operating for patrons requiring assistance closer to the ground.
If you want to hear the thoughts of our podcasters after Monday’s King’s Birthday clash, tune in right here.
