Blight declared a legend of the AFL

The AFL has declared Malcolm Blight a Legend of the game while inducting six newcomers to the Hall of Fame.

Malcolm Blight has been declared a Legend of the AFL at a gala Hall of Fame function in Adelaide.

The playing superstar and premiership coach was feted on Tuesday night with another half-dozen inducted into the AFL's Hall of Fame.

Asked to reflect on the honour and football in his life, Blight said: "It has been me.

"I just reckon there is a Sherrin in the heart."

Umpire Brett Allen, ex-Adelaide captain and current Melbourne coach Simon Goodwin, South Australian great John Halbert, St Kilda and Sydney imposer Barry Hall, North Melbourne stalwart Anthony Stevens and Collingwood's Ron Todd were inducted.

Blight was afforded the AFL's highest status, joining 26 other Legends.

Now aged 67, Blight won both the Magarey Medal in South Australia and Brownlow Medal in Victoria.

A match-winning forward, Blight also topped goalkicking in the SANFL and VFL in an 18-season playing career.

He switched to coaching and after three losing grand finals at Geelong, the South Australian delivered the Adelaide Crows premierships in 1997-98.

"You couldn't have written the script," Blight said.

"I love the game of footy. It has been good to me, hopefully I have given something back."

Inductee Brett Allen umpired 347 AFL matches from 1992-2007, including seven grand finals.

Goodwin is now Melbourne's coach after being a dual premiership player at Adelaide, where he was a triple club champion.

South Australian Halbert played 244 games for Sturt between 1955-68, he was a Magarey Medallist and four-time club best and fairest, before coaching in the SANFL.

Hall, who started at St Kilda before landing at Sydney, was a nine-time club leading goalkicker.

North Melbourne's Stevens chalked up 292 games for North Melbourne from 1989-2004, including two premierships.

And the now 74-year-old Todd played at Collingwood in the 1930s before a distinguished career at Williamstown through the 1940s.


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