THE Bendigo Football-Netball League is holding its fourth Hall of Fame induction at the Bendigo Club tonight.
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Ten inductees will be added to the 42 inducted at the first four ceremonies.
Those already in the Hall of Fame are:
1986 - Alan Martin, Alan Williams, Alf Odgers, Bob McCaskill, Clive Philp, Colin Rice, Eddie Esposito, Fred Swift, George Ilsley, George Ogilvie, Graham Arthur, Greg Williams, Herb Zegelin, Kevin Curran, Peter Moroni, Peter Pianto, Reg Ford, Ron Best, Tony Southcombe, Wally Culpitt.
1996 - Alan McDonald, Bill Bonney, Brendan Hartney, Francis Burke, Frank Capper, Frank Lenaghan, Gary Mountjoy, Harry Morgan, Jack Jefferies, Peter Tyack, Shane Muir, Trevor Keogh.
2010 - Alan Patterson, Herb Milburn, Neil Monro, Neville Strauch, Peter Davey, Peter Fyffe, Robert O’Connell, Ron Cawthan, Ron Threlfall, Tony Kelly.
The night will also include a 25-year reunion of the 1989 BFL inter-league team that won the Vic Health Country Championships division one title, captained by Brendan Hartney.
INDUCTEE 1: Brendan Keane (Eaglehawk, Sandhurst)
Played 263 games at Eaglehawk and Sandhurst and in premierships at both clubs.
Was part of Sandhurst’s 1973 premiership and grand final victories at Eaglehawk in 1980 and 1982.
Represented the BFL in four inter-league games, including the 1972 Country Championships grand final win over Murray at Cobram.
The wingman/half-forward won Sandhurst’s best and fairest in the 1973 premiership year and again the following season.
Post-career was a member of Sandhurst’s selection panel, including four years as chairman of selectors.
INDUCTEE 2: Harry Watts (South Bendigo, Castlemaine)
A 204-game career that included 201 at South Bendigo and three with Castlemaine, coaching both clubs.
First played as a 16-year-old in South Bendigo’s senior team in 1962. Started as a centre half-forward before later playing as a centreman.
A two-time premiership player at South Bendigo in 1969 and 1974.
Won six best and fairests at the Bloods - 1965, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1973 and 1974.
Played three inter-league games, as well as an international game against a visiting Papua New Guinea side in 1974.
INDUCTEE 3: John Ledwidge (Golden Square, Eaglehawk)
More than 450 games involved in the BFL - 185 as a player and player/coach, and later 270 as a coach.
The ruckman/forward played in premierships with Golden Square in 1964-65 and was the playing coach of Eaglehawk’s flag in 1968.
Coached a second flag at Eaglehawk in 1971.
At inter-league level, led Bendigo to its maiden Country Championships title in 1962 as playing coach when the Blue and Gold defeated Wimmera at Horsham in the grand final.
Named coach of Eaglehawk’s Team of the Century during the club’s 125th celebrations in 2005.
INDUCTEE 4: Gary Evans (Eaglehawk, YCW, Northern United)
Member of five premiership teams during the 1980s as part of a 303-game career.
A part of Eaglehawk’s 1980 premiership in its centenary season, before later playing in four-consecutive flags in 1984, 1985, 1986 and 1987 with Northern United.
Was one of Northern United’s best players in the 1984 grand final win over Eaglehawk.
Represented the BFL in 1985.
Was a running half-back or winger whose pace was a feature of his game in what was a senior career that started as a 17-year-old at Eaglehawk.
INDUCTEE 5: Kevin Parks (Kyneton)
In seven seasons with the Tigers played 139 games and kicked 170 goals.
One of only three players to have played in each of the Tigers’ three premiership triumphs in the ’60s - 1960, 1961 and 1966.
Coached Kyneton’s 1966 grand final win over Golden Square.
Polled 19 votes to win the 1960 Michelsen Medal, and was also a Tigers’ best and fairest in 1960 and 1962.
Vice-captain of the Bendigo team that defeated Wimmera to win the 1962 Country Championship title.
Was a regular BFL representative player during his seven years at the Kyneton Showgrounds.
INDUCTEE 6: Phil Byrne (Golden square, Kennington-Strathdale, Eaglehawk, Kangaroo flat, South Bendigo)
Played 229 senior games for five different clubs.
Won premierships with Eaglehawk in 1980 and 1982, captain-coaching the 1982 flag.
A stalwart of inter-league football, representing the league in 1973, 1977, 1978, 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1984 - the last three years as captain.
Selected in BFL All-Star teams in 1981, 1982, 1983 and 1985 and picked at half-back in Kennington’s “best of” team.
Won two best and fairests at Kennington and one at South Bendigo in 1985.
INDUCTEE 7: Steve McKerrow (Kennington-Strathdale, Sandhurst, Kangaroo Flat)
Racked up more than 200 games during his three-club career.
The key forward kicked a century of goals in consecutive seasons in 1979 and 1980 for Sandhurst.
His tally of 109 goals in 1980 included one four-week period where he slotted 50 goals in four matches.
The following season he joined Kangaroo Flat, then playing in division two of the Bendigo-Golden City Football League.
He kicked 114 goals in Kangaroo Flat’s 1981 premiership season.
Played 14 inter-league matches, mainly as a half-forward and forward pocket in those representative games.
INDUCTEE 8: Ron Wicks (Kangaroo Flat)
A 392-game stalwart of Kangaroo Flat - his first match as a 17-year-old in 1983 against YCW at Backhaus Oval.
A five-time club best and fairest winner - 1987, 1989, 1993, 1996 (tie with Simon Jorgensen) and 1998.
Won the 1993 Michelsen Medal with 24 votes.
A member of Kangaroo Flat’s 1996 premiership team, with the grand final one of just eight finals he played in at the Roos.
Inter-league representative in 1989 - the year Bendigo won the division one championship - 1990, 1991 and 1993.
Played both his 300th game and was awarded life membership of Kangaroo Flat in 2001.
INDUCTEE 9: Stan Plowman (Kyneton)
Played with Kyneton from 1940 to 1954, including nine of those seasons in the seniors.
Also held roles as coach and secretary during his playing days.
The inaugural winner of the BFL reserves medal in 1952.
Coached the Kyneton reserves in 1952-53.
Had a long involvement off the field with the Tigers that included 29 years as secretary - 1951-70, 1973-76, 1979, 1982-83 and 1987-88.
Was Kyneton’s club delegate for six years. Awarded BFL life membership in 1957 and received the VCFL Outstanding Service Award in 1971.
INDUCTEE 10: Ron McHardy (Golden Square)
Played more than 200 games for the Bulldogs having first trained with the club in 1936 - Golden Square’s second year in the BFL.
A dual winner of the club’s best and fairest - the second at the age of 34.
Was part of a four-way tie in 1947 for BFL league medal, then known as the T.R. Davies Medal.
In the days before inter-league football, was a member of the BFL team that played against VFL club Footscray.
Played mainly as a centreman or rover, before switching to centre half-forward late in his career.
Played until the age of 36 before retiring in 1960.