Barry Cable removed from AFL Hall of Fame, Legend status revoked
Disgraced Australian Rules legend Barry Cable has had his highest honours revoked immediately by the AFL and the club he played for.
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Barry Cable has been immediately removed from the Australian football Hall of Fame and had his Legend status revoked following distressing revelations of child sexual abuse.
The former North Melbourne player is at the centre of graphic and disturbing allegations involving young girls more than 30 years ago.
On Tuesday, the AFL commission met and voted unanimously to strip Cable of all honours after the District Court of Western Australia found the 79-year-old had sexually assaulted a young girl during his playing career.
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“The finding of Judge Herron was incredibly serious and distressing and the thoughts of the AFL Commission are entirely with the victim, who bravely told her story and the other women who courageously came forward during the course of the trial to tell their stories. We acknowledge the courage it has taken to reach an outcome through the courts in WA,” league chairman Richard Goyder said.
“Once the court ruling was handed down it was incumbent on the Commission and the game to immediately examine the facts of this matter and the horrific nature of these events required that Barry Cable can no longer be considered for any honours that the Hall of Fame or football can bestow.
“At our last Commission meeting we moved to alter the charter for the Australian football Hall of Fame, to include a new section that allows for the AFL Commission to remove any person for conduct which brings the AFL, the Hall of Fame inductee, any AFL Club or Australian football into disrepute.
“Induction into the Hall of Fame and designation of Legend Status will immediately be removed.”
The decision comes as the Australian Hall of Fame prepares to induct several new members at this year’s ceremony in Melbourne on Tuesday night.
North Melbourne followed suit and announced it had made the decision to remove Cable from the club’s Hall of Fame, effectively immediately.
The Kangaroos said in a statement: “The Court’s judgement included various findings which were not previously known to North Melbourne and are inconsistent with the Hall of Fame’s subjective criteria relevant to character.”
“The decision to remove Cable from the Hall of Fame was unanimous by the Board,” club president Dr Sonja Hood said.
“The contents of Judge Herron’s findings were incredibly disturbing and we commend the women for their resilience and courage in coming forward to tell their stories. Our thoughts are with them and their families.”
Judge Mark Herron found that the abuse had taken place, awarding the woman $818,700 in damages, although Cable had declared bankruptcy.
Cable won two VFL premierships with North Melbourne in 1975 and 1977 over 115 games and also coached the club over two stints in the 1970s and 1980s.
The former Kangaroos player and coach had been elevated to Legend status in the Hall of Fame in 2012.
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Originally published as Barry Cable removed from AFL Hall of Fame, Legend status revoked
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