Four SA greats enter Football Hall of Fame
Erin Phillips is the first female to be inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame last night – with this year’s Magarey Medal winner also announced. See the video.
Four South Australian football greats were inducted into the West End SA Football Hall of Fame at the Adelaide Oval on Monday night – as this year’s Magarey Medal winner was named.
Erin Phillips OAM is the first female inductee to the South Australian Football Hall of Fame when she was joined by highly-decorated sportscaster Bruce McAvaney OAM, Norwood premiership giant Neil Button and Sturt premiership utility Tony Burgan.
“Most of the people that come into a Hall of Fame for football have proven their worth on the ground – I haven’t,” McAvaney said.
“I realise how special this is and for selectors to feel like I’m warranted makes it wonderful.”
Phillips said she was inspired by her father Greg Phillips, who played 305 games for Port Adelaide in the SANFL and 84 for Collingwood, to pursue a career in football.
“Tonight I can’t help but think about all the women and girls who have loved football long before the opportunities ever existed that we have today,” Phillips said.
“Women who’ve played when nobody was watching, women who’ve fought to have a place in this great game of ours, women who were told that football was just not for them.
“Although my name may be up here as the first woman to represent the South Australian Football Hall of Fame, this moment is for every woman, every girl that has ever put on a guernsey and believed they belong because they did.”
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Established in 2002 to enshrine those who have made a “most significant contribution to the game of Australian Football,” the West End SA Football Hall of Fame now includes 234 players, coaches, umpires, administrators and media representatives.
The West End SA Football Hall of Fame is divided into five eras – 1877-1900, 1901-1930, 1931-1960, 1961-1990 and 1991-present day.
The 2026 Committee comprised Philip Gallagher (Chairman), Dion McCaffrie, Michael Aish, David Marshall, Brian Cunningham, Tim Pfeiffer, Chris McDermott, David Shipway AM, and Andrew Capel.
While Norwood’s Nik Rokahr was the first player to win the Magarey and Sandover Medal at SANFL’s gala event.
The Redlegs’ midfielder was awarded the competition’s fairest and best player, he polled 38 votes from 18 games, the most since four-time winner Russell Ebert attracted 42 from 21 matches in 1976.
Erin Phillips OAM
Playing Record
- Inaugural Crows AFLW squad member
- AFLW Adelaide – Games. 46. Goals: 50 (2017-2022)
- AFLW Port Adelaide – Games. 20. Goals: 3 (2022-2023)
- Co-captain of Adelaide (2017-2020)
- Captain of Port Adelaide (2022-2023)
- Three AFLW premiership player with Adelaide (2017, 2019, 2022)
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Achievements
- 3 x AFLW All-Australian (2017, 2019, 2021)
- 2 x AFLW Best and Fairest (2017, 2019)
- 2 x AFLW Grand Final Best-on-Ground Medallist (2017, 2019)
- AFLW Players’ Most Valuable Player Award (2017, 2019)
- 2 x Crows Club Champion (2017, 2019)
- AFL Coaches Association AFLW Champion Player of the Year (2019)
- AFLW Goal of the Year (2017)
- Adelaide Leading Goalkicker (2018, 2021)
- 2 x Premiership Co-Captain (2017, 2019)
- Adelaide Football Club Life Member
- Australian Football Hall of Fame (2025)
- Medal of the Order of Australia (2021)
Bruce McAvaney OAM
- Media Career
- Channel Seven Adelaide (started SANFL commentary in 1978)
- Lead SANFL caller 1981-83
- Network Ten 1983-89
- Channel Seven 1989-2020 (called more than 1000 AFL games, including 20 grand finals, Brownlow Medal host)
Achievements
- Australian Football Hall of Fame 2023
- AFL life member 2023
- Sport Australia Hall of Fame 2002
- Medal of the Order of Australia 2002
- TV Week Logie Hall of Fame 2022
- Veteran Pin from World Athletics 2025
- Melbourne Press Club Lifetime Achievement Award
- Penguin Award for ‘Best Sports Presenter’ 1989
- International Olympic Committee Media Award 1989
Neil Button
Playing Record
- 283 games & 163 goals for Norwood 1971 – 1985
- Member of Norwood premiership teams 1975, 1978, 1982
- Matches for South Australia – nine games
Achievements
- Norwood FC Life Member
- Norwood FC Hall of Fame Inductee
- Norwood Team of the Century (Centre Half-Forward)
- The Advertiser Team of the Year 1977, 1978, 1979, 1981
- Norwood vice-captain 1978, 1979
- Norwood best and fairest runner-up 1972, 1978, 1979
- SANFL Player Life Member 1981
Tony Burgan
Playing Record
- 244 games &122 goals for Sturt 1967 – 1979
- Member of Sturt premiership teams 1968, 1969, 1970, 1974, 1976
- Matches for South Australia – eight games
Achievements
- Player Life Member for Sturt 1974
- Player Life Member of the SANFL 1976
- All Australian 1972
- Member of the Team of the Century for Sturt (Wing)
- Inducted into the Sturt Football Hall of Fame 2006
- Member The Advertiser Team of the Year 1971, 1972, 1978
- Member of Jack Oatey Vintage 21 Team
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