Three-time Geelong premiership heroes Jimmy Bartel and Corey Enright have turn into the most recent Cats legends to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Five years after their former teammate and star defender Matthew Scarlett joined the illustrious group, Bartel and Enright had been added in through the occasion on Tuesday evening.
The pair each ended their taking part in careers on the finish of the 2016 season following Geelong’s preliminary-final loss to the Sydney Swans.
Despite ending their time with the Cats on a low, Bartel and Enright performed a central function in a unprecedented interval of success for the regional Victorian membership.
The dynamic duo starred in Geelong’s 2007 premiership, the membership’s first in 44 years, earlier than being a part of additional grand-final success in 2009 and 2011.
A brave midfielder, Bartel was awarded the 2007 Brownlow Medal and took out the Norm Smith Medal for his best-on-ground efficiency within the 2011 grand-final win over Collingwood.
Now a revered media analyst and a GWS board member, Bartel completed his profession with 305 video games and 202 objectives.
“You go to the Geelong football club, I know Matt Scarlett’s already in the Hall of Fame, but I can’t wait to see all my teammates (be inducted) over the years,” Bartel stated throughout his acceptance speech.
“Gary (Ablett) of course, who made me a bit emotional when Jnr spoke about me in that way (before being inducted).”
Enright stays one of many best defenders in fashionable AFL historical past, named All-Australian six occasions, together with in his ultimate season.
Geelong ought to proceed to dominate the Hall of Fame consumption in coming years with fellow premiership greats akin to Gary Ablett Jnr, Steve Johnson, Joel Selwood and Tom Hawkins nearly sure to be included once they turn into eligible.
One of Bartel and Enright’s former adversaries, Sam Mitchell, was additionally inducted into the Hall of Fame after a stellar four-premiership profession for Hawthorn, adopted by a one-season stint at West Coast.
Mitchell skippered the Hawks’ 2008 grand-final victory over Geelong, earlier than handing the captaincy reins over to Luke Hodge forward of the 2011 season.
Hawthorn added to their premiership cupboard with a 2013-15 flag three-peat.
Mitchell was retrospectively topped a joint winner of the 2012 Brownlow Medal after Essendon’s Jobe Watson gave up his award following the Bombers’ dietary supplements saga.
Now teaching Hawthorn after taking up from his long-time mentor Alastair Clarkson on the finish of 2021, Mitchell completed with 329 video games and is a five-time Hawks best-and-fairest winner.
Port Adelaide’s solely AFL premiership coach Mark Williams acquired a belated induction, 13 years after he stepped away from the Power.
Williams loved an illustrious taking part in profession within the SANFL with Port Adelaide, earlier than taking his abilities to the VFL/AFL at Collingwood and Brisbane.
AFL Commission chairman Richard Goyder confirmed St Kilda nice Nick Riewoldt had accepted an invite into the Hall of Fame.
However, the previous Saints captain resides within the United States together with his household this 12 months and can be formally inducted when he returns to Australia.
2023 AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES
Sam Mitchell (Hawthorn, West Coast)
Jimmy Bartel (Geelong)
Corey Enright (Geelong)
Michael Aish (Norwood, SANFL)
Tom Leahy (West Adelaide, North Adelaide SANFL)
Bruce McAvaney (broadcaster)
Mark Williams (Port Adelaide as participant and coach, Collingwood, Brisbane)
Source: www.perthnow.com.au
