Ex-Hawthorn player Mike Porter’s shock at being killed off during Australian Football Hall of Fame tributes

Former Hawthorn player Mike Porter has told of his shock after learning through friends he had been killed off as part of the Australian Football’s Hall of Fame tributes. See the awkward moment here.

Hawthorn premiership player Mike “Portholes” Porter has told of his shock at being “killed off” by the AFL and says he’s fighting fit with “hopefully a few years left yet”, despite reports of his demise.

Porter, 79, was the subject of an incorrect death notice when the AFL paid homage to its fallen heroes at its annual Hall of Fame dinner on Tuesday night.

The 1971 premiership player was out for dinner on Tuesday night when suddenly his phone lit up with messages of concern.

“I got all these phone calls on Tuesday night, the first being from a mate I played with at Hawthorn named John Fisher, When I answered he just said ‘thank god”, I said ‘why” and he told me the AFL Hall of Fame had killed me off.

Former Hawthorn premiership player Michael Porter at home in Greenwich in Sydney’s north on Thursday. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“Then Ian Bremner rang saying ‘Parko’ (David Parkin) and John Kennedy Jnr had contacted him. It spread like wildfire,” said Porter, now retired and living in the Sydney suburb of Greenwich after a 22-year career at Valvoline, where he was managing director.

“I’ve just turned 79 and feel healthy enough. Maybe there was a benefit in it because I’ve been playing like sh-t on the golf course but today (off a handicap of 14) I had 43 points. I reckon St Peter played with me today.

“When it happened my wife texted the AFL to say I was still alive and if they wanted to talk to me they could give me a ring but I haven’t heard from them (The AFL on Thursday issued a statement saying it was “an innocent mistake” before adding they had rung Porter to apologise to him).

“It didn’t really worry me although I have wondered how it could actually happen, because someone has to initially say you have actually died. Was there another Mike Porter who died? I don’t know the answer but look at it this way, it did get me mentioned on the AFL Hall of Fame night (laughter).”

Porter played 78 games with Hawthorn from 1966-72 after being recruited from Haileybury College via University Blacks. He was regarded as a tough footballer and recalls a pivotal incident in the 1971 VFL Grand Final when Hawthorn beat St Kilda by seven points in a brutal encounter in front of 118,192 at the MCG.

Michael Porter received dozens of calls after the AFL Hall of Fame listed him as dead. Picture: NewsWire / Nikki Short

“The true story is I was moved to a half back flank at half time after Robert Day was knocked out. When the game started I saw my teammate Kevin Heath on the ground searching for his tooth which he told me Carl Ditterich had knocked out with his elbow.

“He suddenly said, “I’ve found it” and put it in his sock. Even when I see him today he still pulls out his tooth.

“After it happened I told Kevin I would get Carl for him. A few minutes later I was running alongside Carl and just went smash and whacked him across the face.

“He wasn’t too good and had been dominating the game but after that he didn’t really play well. And a bit later Ray Wilson, who was only about 10 stone, knocked him over. I have seen Carl since and laughed about it.

Mike Porter's tribute photo from the Australian Football Hall of Fame.

“That was a game where a lot went on, including Peter Hudson being knocked out. Hudson was a genuine footballing freak. I know he gets a lot of kudos but to my mind not enough.

“Nobody has ever fully understood his genius, and I played with Leigh Matthews and Peter Knights who were extraordinary players. And I played against Ian Stewart who just never fumbled the ball/

“I still follow the Hawks and love the game, particularly Marcus Bontempelli who to my mind captures everything that is good about Australian rules. And please add that while the AFL might have killed me off a bit early, they have done a great job promoting the code in Sydney.”

Originally published as Ex-Hawthorn player Mike Porter’s shock at being killed off during Australian Football Hall of Fame tributes