The Sydney Swans have welcomed four new inductees into the Swans Hall of Fame, while a further eight past players have been elevated to ‘Champions’ status.
The new inductees include Daryn Cresswell, Peter Reville, Arthur Hiskins and Tom Bushell, while the players elevated to Champions include Tony Lockett, Roy Cazaly, Laurie Nash, Barry Round, Greg Williams, Gerard Healy, Michael O’Loughlin and Brett Kirk.
HALL OF FAME
All-Australian and Bob Skilton Medallist Daryn Cresswell was there to accept his Hall of Fame honour at the special dinner, which returned to Melbourne for the first time in over 10 years.
Cresswell joined the Sydney Swans in 1991 and was key in the revival that would culminate in the extraordinary 1996 season and subsequent Grand Final appearance. A remarkably consistent performer over 244 games in the red and white, he finished in the top four in Club Champion voting on eight occasions, including winning the Bob Skilton Medal in 1994.
Joining Cresswell as new inductees in the Swans Hall of Fame are Peter Reville, Arthur Hiskins, and Tom Bushell.
Peter Reville played 156 games for South Melbourne from 1925-1934, including the 1933 Grand Final victory over Richmond. A brilliant half-forward, he kicked 207 goals for the red and white, cementing himself in one of the greatest Bloods forward lines in history, alongside Laurie Nash and Bob Pratt. As vice-captain, he was among the best on field in the 1933 Premiership.
Arthur “Poddy” Hiskins played 185 games and kicked 56 goals for South Melbourne from 1908-1923, and his achievements are even more impressive given his career was interrupted by army service in World War I. The 1909 Premiership player finished his career having played in six semi-finals, three preliminary finals and the 1909 Grand Final, and from all accounts he was one of the best VFL footballers of his era. Hiskins was appointed captain-coach of South Melbourne in 1920 and retired in 1923 at the age of 37.
Tom Bushell represented South Melbourne with great distinction from 1881 to 1892, during a golden era for the club in which it won five VFA Premierships. One of the finest forwards of his time, Bushell played in the VFA Premiership teams of 1881, ’85, ’88, ’89 and ’90 – since the creation of the VFL/AFL only five players have played in more premierships. Bushell was the club’s leading goal scorer in 1882 and 1883, and after Dinny McKay and Peter Burns he is the club’s third highest overall goal kicker prior to the VFL era.
EIGHT NEW CHAMPIONS
For the first time the Swans have introduced the category of Champion in the Hall of Fame. The new status has been introduced to recognise those with outstanding achievements and who have made significant contributions to the club, but those who may not yet qualify for Legend status or may not qualify due to lack of games played.
Eight players have been elevated to Champion status this year, including Tony Lockett, Roy Cazaly, Laurie Nash, Barry Round, Greg Williams, Gerard Healy, Michael O’Loughlin and Brett Kirk.
Roy Cazaly was one of the best-known footballers in the country and was an inaugural inductee as an AFL Legend in 1996. He played 99 games in the red and white from 1921-27 and was captain-coach in 1922. He was the first winner of the Swans Club Champion award in 1926.
Laurie Nash was an inaugural inductee into AFL Hall of Fame in 1996. He played 99 games with the Swans including the 1933 Premiership and was selected as centre-half forward in Sydney’s Team of the Century. For a period the club’s best and fairest award was called the Laurie Nash Medal in his honour.
Barry Round was inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame 2001 and played 193 games for Swans. Round won the Brownlow Medal in 1981, was Swans Club Champion in both 1979 and ’81, and he was later named as ruck in Sydney’s Team of the Century. In acknowledgement of Round’s significant on and off field contribution, Sydney’s Best Clubman award is named in his honour.
Greg Williams was selected in the AFL’s Team of Century in 1996 and inducted into Australian Football Hall of Fame 2001. He played 107 games for the Swans and won the Brownlow in 1986. Selected as centre in Sydney’s Team of the Century, Williams is a six time All Australian.
Gerard Healy was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame 2000. He played 81 games for the Swans and won the 1988 Brownlow Medal. Healy was the Swans Club Champion in 1986, ’87 and ’88, was selected at half-forward flank in Sydney’s Team of the Century and is a six time All Australian.
Tony Lockett was elevated to Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend in 2015. He played 98 games for the Swans and kicked 462 goals for the club. In 1999 at the SCG aged 33, Lockett broke Gordon Coventry’s longstanding VFL/AFL goalkicking record when he kicked his 1300th goal. Selected as full forward in Sydney’s Team of the Century, Lockett is a three time All Australian and dual Coleman medallist.
Michael O’Loughlin was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2015. He was the first player to play 300 games for the Swans, finishing his career with 303 games and 521 goals. A 2005 Premiership player, O’Loughlin was Sydney Swans Club Champion in 1998, is a dual All Australian and member of the AFL’s Indigenous Team of the Century. The Goodes O’Loughlin Medal for the best on ground in Sydney’s Marn Grook game is named in his honour.
Brett Kirk played 241 games for the Swans from 1999-2010 and has been a major influence in driving the club’s culture. Kirk is a 2005 Premiership player who captained the club from 2005-10. He was Club Champion in 2005 and 2007, is an All Australian and in 2019 he was named in the Greatest NSW Team of All Time. The best on ground in the Sydney Derby between the Swans and GWS receives the Brett Kirk Medal, named in his honour.
HERITAGE LIST
In another significant part of the evening, three additions were inducted to the club’s Heritage List. These include:
- Jared Crouch’s 194 consecutive games: Premiership player Jared Crouch ran out in 223 games for the Swans after being recruited from Norwood in 1995. He made his debut in Round 7, 1998 and played 194 consecutive games from debut.
- Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal: On Friday, March 25 this year Lance Franklin became just the sixth player in VFL/AFL history to kick 1000 goals. The incredible milestone came in the final quarter of the match against Geelong at the SCG, prompting thousands of fans to run onto the field to celebrate with him.
- The Best VFA Team: Named below, the Best VFA Team is comprised of players who helped South Melbourne finish in the top four for 13 consecutive seasons from 1879, winning five premierships.
The Greatest South Melbourne Team of the VFA era has been named as follows:
FOLLOWERS
RICHARD (DICK) GIBSON (1891-96) (1897-8)
PETER (THE GREAT) BURNS (1885-91) CO-CAPTAIN
HENRY (HARRY) PURDY (1885-91)
INTERCHANGE
ARCHIE (BANTAM) McMURRAY (1889-91)
MATTHEW (LEGS AND WINGS) MINCHIN (1880-82/84-88)
RICHARD (JUMBO) KERR (1888-93)
WILLIAM (BILLY) SPENCE (1886-93)
SUMMARY
HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
DARYN CRESSWELL
244 Games (1992-2003)
Club Champion 1994
All- Australian 1997
Swans Team of the Century
PETER REVILLE
156 Games (1925-34)
207 Goals
1933 Premiership
ARTHUR HISKINS
185 Games (1908-1923)
56 Goals
1909 Premiership
Captain/Coach 1920
TOM BUSHELL
73 Games (1881-1892)
96 Goals
1881, 1885, 1888, 1889, 1890 Premierships
Leading Goal Kicker 1882, 1883
CHAMPIONS ELEVATIONS
ROY CAZALY
Swans Hall of fame Inductee 2009
99 Games (1921-24 / 1926-27)
Captain-Coach 1922
Club Champion 1926
LAURIE NASH
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
99 Games (1933-37 / 1945)
Premiership 1933
Swans Team of the Century
BARRY ROUND
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
193 Games (1976-85)
Captain 1980-84
Swans Team of the Century
Brownlow Medal 1981
TONY LOCKETT
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
98 Games (1995-99 / 2002)
Club Champion 1995
462 Goals (Leading Goalkicker 1995-99)
Coleman Medal 1996, 1998
Swans Team of the Century
GREG WILLIAMS
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
107 Games (1986-1991)
Brownlow Medal 1986
Swans Team of the Century
GERARD HEALY
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2009
81 Games (1986-1990)
Club Champion 1986, 1987, 1988
Brownlow Medal 1988
Swans Team of the Century
MICHAEL O’LOUGHLIN
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2011
303 Games (1995-2009)
521 Goals (Leading Goalkicker 2000-2001)
Club Champion 1998
Premiership 2005
BRETT KIRK
Swans Hall of Fame Inductee 2011
241 Games (1999-2010)
Club Champion 2005, 2007
Co-Captain 2006-2010
HERITAGE LIST
- Lance Franklin’s 1000th goal
- Best VFA Team
- Jared Crouch’s 194 consecutive games
