You beauty! Jezza's leap is Legendary
ALEX Jesaulenko last night was awarded Legend status in the Australian football Hall of Fame, becoming the first man born outside Australia to join football's most esteemed pantheon.
Born in Austria to a Ukrainian father and Russian mother, Jesaulenko went on to become a wizard on the football field. The Carlton champion left an indelible mark on the game after taking a soaring mark in the 1970 grand final that inspired commentary that lives on today. The commentator, Mike Williamson, was at last night's ceremony and Jesaulenko told the crowd: "He still says if he hadn't said those words, I would have been an unknown little wog."
Kevin Sheedy was one of eight inductees into the Hall of Fame last night, awarded the honour as soon as he was eligible following his epic coaching career at Essendon. Des Tuddenham, Noel Teasdale, Geof Motley, Gavin Brown, Garry Hocking and Glen Jakovich were also admitted, along with long-serving Queensland umpire Tom McArthur.
But another of the game's all-time greats, Wayne Carey, was overlooked by the selectors, who clearly referred to the selection criteria relating to the integrity and character of potential candidates and decided the former North Melbourne captain was not yet worthy of qualification.
Carey faces charges in both Melbourne and the US for allegedly assaulting police and resisting arrest, and has also recently admitted to battling drug use. The admission of Gary Ablett snr into the Hall of Fame was delayed for four years after the drug-related problems he had in retirement.
Former Magpie great Tuddenham was granted entry after being overlooked for 12 years. A Collingwood captain for five seasons and of Essendon for four in the 1960s and '70s, he was convicted of handling stolen goods in 1980 and, in 2004, received a suspended jail term and lost his driver's licence for 2½ years after pleading guilty to four charges that included driving under the influence and failing to identify himself at the scene of an accident. He played 251 games and won the Magpies' best-and-fairest in 1963.
The inductees were announced at a function at Crown Casino. While it was optional this year for the selection committee, chaired by AFL Commission chairman Mike Fitzpatrick, to induct another legend, it's believed that in the 150th-year celebration, it was decided a further addition would be timely.
Three former Carlton greats, Jesaulenko, Ron Barassi (whose career also encompassed Melbourne, North Melbourne and Sydney) and John Nicholls, are now among the game's 22 official legends.
Jesaulenko was uncannily skilled and named on a half-forward flank in the AFL's team of the century in 1996. He kicked 115 goals in 1970 and also sparked the Blues' revival in the grand final that year. It was in that game that Jesaulenko took what is perhaps football's most famous grab, over the top of Collingwood's Graeme Jenkin. He played in four premierships — in 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979, when he was captain-coach — and finished with a total of 279 games, 23 of them for St Kilda, which he also captained and coached.
Sheedy, a 251-game Richmond player who holds the AFL record for the most games combined as a player and coach, was recognised for his 27 years of service as Essendon's football boss. In a coaching career that spanned 1981-2007 and 635 matches, Sheedy led the Bombers to four premierships and the runner-up spot three times.
Sheedy last night said one of his highlights was being coached by Tommy Hafey. He thanked some of the star players he had guided throughout his career — James Hird, Tim Watson, Simon Madden, Terry Daniher and Michael Long — but saved his main thanks for his wife, Geraldine, whom he described as a "superstar, excellent and sensational".
Teasdale, who was named first ruck in North Melbourne's team of the century, won a Brownlow — albeit one awarded retrospectively after Ian Stewart was initially the outright winner in 1965.
Port Adelaide legend Motley played in nine premierships in 12 years — four as captain and one as captain-coach.
Brown, a brilliant wingman for Collingwood and former captain, played in the 1990 premiership, won three best-and-fairests over a 254-game career.
Hocking's award would have gone some way to soothing the pain of several near-misses over an outstanding career. He said last night: "I think my career is fully fulfilled … tonight." A former Cats' captain and member of the club's team of the century, Hocking played in four losing grand finals and was in the top three of the Brownlow Medal count four times.
Jakovich, a dual premiership player, was the most recently retired inductee named and the third player from the Eagles' super side of the 1990s, joining Peter Matera and Dean Kemp.
McArthur officiated in 502 games in the QAFL.
Jesaulenko was uncannily skilled and named on a half-forward flank in the AFL's team of the century in 1996. He kicked 115 goals in 1970 and also sparked the Blues' revival in the grand final that year. It was in that game that Jesaulenko took what is perhaps football's most famous grab, over the top of Collingwood's Graeme Jenkin. He played in four premierships — in 1968, 1970, 1972 and 1979, when he was captain-coach — and finished with a total of 279 games, 23 of them for St Kilda, which he also captained and coached.
Sheedy, a 251-game Richmond player who holds the AFL record for the most games combined as a player and coach, was recognised for his 27 years of service as Essendon's football boss. In a coaching career that spanned 1981-2007 and 635 matches, Sheedy led the Bombers to four premierships and the runner-up spot three times.
Sheedy last night said one of his highlights was being coached by Tommy Hafey. He thanked some of the star players he had guided throughout his career — James Hird, Tim Watson, Simon Madden, Terry Daniher and Michael Long — but saved his main thanks for his wife, Geraldine, whom he described as a "superstar, excellent and sensational".
Teasdale, who was named first ruck in North Melbourne's team of the century, won a Brownlow — albeit one awarded retrospectively after Ian Stewart was initially the outright winner in 1965.
Port Adelaide legend Motley played in nine premierships in 12 years — four as captain and one as captain-coach.
Brown, a brilliant wingman for Collingwood and former captain, played in the 1990 premiership, won three best-and-fairests over a 254-game career.
Hocking's award would have gone some way to soothing the pain of several near-misses over an outstanding career. He said last night: "I think my career is fully fulfilled … tonight." A former Cats' captain and member of the club's team of the century, Hocking played in four losing grand finals and was in the top three of the Brownlow Medal count four times.
Jakovich, a dual premiership player, was the most recently retired inductee named and the third player from the Eagles' super side of the 1990s, joining Peter Matera and Dean Kemp.
McArthur officiated in 502 games in the QAFL
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