Swan Districts' Hall of Fame to continue to expand scope

The Swan Districts Football Club's Hall of Fame is not only crucial to remembering and celebrating the success of the club over the past 90 years, but also to begin to honour those who contribute on all levels according to President Peter Hodyl.

In July saw the Swan Districts Football Club celebrate the third Hall of Fame Induction evening after the establishment back in 2016 and then another ceremony that was held in 2021.

The plan moving forward will be to host a Hall of Fame induction ceremony every two years moving forward and Hodyl would like to see it expand to not just recognise the great players, coaches and officials, but volunteers as well moving forward.

The 2023 induction class featured Eric Gorman, Tallan Ames, RA McDonald, Brian Gray, Leon Baker and Simon Beasley while John Todd was elevated to immortal status and another iconic moment was also recognised.

Hodyl is the current President of the Swan Districts Football Club and is proud of the way the Hall of Fame has grown to now recognise different eras and to continue to expand in recognise people who contribute in different areas, and even with the iconic moments.

"Nights like that are incredibly important and when you think about it, we're 90 years old as a club next year and there were two particular era especially significant for us, the 61-62-63 premierships and then the 82-83-84 premierships," Hodyl said.

"The players and people involved in those two periods, they always get recognised because of the success they had, but with the Hall of Fame we have a specific charter about the qualifications you need to go in over a minimum of two years.

"We have a requirement that one inductee must have retired within the past 15 years. That means you are including people who might not have been involved in premierships but contributed a huge amount to the football club."

Contributors who deserve to be recognised in a club's Hall of Fame should go beyond the players, coaches and those holding official positions too according to Hodyl, and that's why moving forward he would also like to see some of the great club volunteers start to be inducted too.

"I sit on all committees and the Hall of Fame one is independent but I would very surprised if volunteers don't start being inducted into our Hall of Fame," Hodyl added.

"I think it's important to recognise what people do and it gives your club a bit more life, and gives a new cohort of people that little bit of added motivation to know they will be appreciated in whatever role they take on.

"For those volunteers to be in a Hall of Fame alongside a Bill Walker, John Todd and so forth would be such a highlight for them and their families. We've reconnected with home historical families like the RA McDonald family and people like that who now can see their grandfather or great grandfather recognised.

"For them to welcomed back into the club it provides great stories and history, and you can see how proud people are to be recognised like and that's really important. It's something I'm really proud that we are able to do as a club."

Looking back to the Hall of Fame celebrations and it was one of the highlights of the 2023 season for Hodyl especially with the way the teammates of those being inducted travel from all over the state and country to attend.

While someone like 2010 premiership player Tallan Ames who was inducted is still a regular face at Steel Blue Oval, to attract people like Simon Beasley and Leon Baker back is also a special occasion not only for them themselves, but their families, friends and former teammates.

"Not only do those individuals get inducted, but they get supported by their teammates of the day too," Hodyl said.

"Someone like Gordon Casey comes back to our footy club for a lot of functions and he was instrumental in the development of that group just before the 82-83-84 premierships.

"I think he played his last game in 1980, but he loves those guys who were his teammates and they love him, and it's great to see someone like that so keen to come back. It's a really good thing.

"We all got together on the Friday before the night when everyone came over and we went down to the local Basso Hotel for lunch and there was about 20 of us who all rocked up, and just had a chat. Ed Blackaby came along and it's such a good thing that we've started to do, and will keep on doing."