Retired Hawthorn superstar Jason Dunstall is among the favourites to be handed Legend status at tonight’s AFL Hall of Fame ceremony.
Dunstall, a four-time premiership player with the Hawks and the AFL's third-greatest goalkicker, is one of 21 former Hawks to have already been inducted into the Hall of Fame, with those deemed to have had a particularly significant impact on the game elevated to Legend status.
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A host of fellow former Hawthorn champions will also in the running tonight to be inducted into the Hall of Fame, with the likes of premiership stars Chris Mew, Michael Moncrieff and Rodney Eade yet to be honored.
The AFL can induct up to six players each year, while to be eligible, players must have been retired for at least three years.
Hawthornfc.com.au takes a look below at the credentials of some of the Hawks yet to be inducted.
Chris Mew
One of his era’s greatest key defenders, Mew was a critical part of Hawthorn’s success through the 1980s and early ‘90s, playing in five premierships between 1983 and 1991. Retiring a veteran of 230 games in 1992, Mew was named at centre half-back in the Hawks’ team of the century
Michael Moncrieff
Moncrief sits behind only Dunstall, Matthews and Hudson for goals scored for the Hawks, with a total of 629. The full forward played 224 games between 1971 and ’83, including the ’76, ’78 premierships and holds the record for the most goals scored in a final by any Hawthorn player, alongside Dermott Brereton and Lance Franklin with eight.
Rodney Eade
A fast wingman, Eade won a premiership with the Hawks in his first year at the club in 1976, before going on to be part of three more in ’78, ’83 and ‘86. The man known as ‘Rocket’ played a total of 229 games in the brown and gold (259 in total) before making a move north to the join the Brisbane Bears.
Terry Wallace
A triple-premiership player with the Hawks, Wallace played 254 career games with 174 of those in the brown and gold. A hard, in-and-under midfielder, Wallace took out two best and fairest awards in his time at the Hawks.
Gary Buckenara
Named on the half-forward flank in the Hawks’ Team of the Century, Buckenara played in four premierships through the 1980s. Playing both through the middle of the ground and across half-forward, Buckenara kicked 293 goals in 154 appearances for Hawthorn, including one after the siren in the 1987 preliminary final, sending the Hawks through to the Grand Final.
Russell Greene
After starting his career at St Kilda, Greene crossed to the Hawks in 1980 before being a part of the ’83, ’86 and ’88 premiership sides. Playing either on the wing or as a ruck-rover, Greene claimed the club’s best and fairest award in ‘84 as he went on to play 304 career games, with 184 of those for the Hawks.
John Peck
A key member of Hawthorn’s inaugural premiership team in 1961, Peck was a triple Coleman medalist (’63, ’64, ‘65), kicking 475 goals from full forward across 213 games for the club.
Col Austen
Retrospectively handed the 1949 Brownlow medal after tying with South Melbourne’s Ron Clegg, Austen also took out the Hawks’ best and fairest in the same year. A defender, Austen played a total of 136 games, with 85 of those for the Hawks.
