MPNFL hall of fame would celebrate a rich history of local football
Is it time for the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League to have a hall of fame? One leading local coach believes so and is leading a push to get it off the ground.
Local Footy
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There are calls for the Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League to establish a hall of fame.
Leading local coach Paddy Swayn said it was time to celebrate the legendary players, coaches and umpires who have contributed to the MPNFL’s 112-year history.
Swayn said a yearly induction ceremony would become a highlight on the peninsula sporting calendar.
“You can induct administrators as well, guys like Kenny Knight…he played for Chelsea and Mt Eliza and then went on and had a great administrative career,’’ Swayn said on GameFace’s Live and Loose show.
“John Watson, from Hastings, Ken Lyons, who is no longer with us…you’d love for those guys to get recognised as well as our superstar players.
“I would be pushing every year to have a function. It would be so good.’’
Swayn said the MPNFL centenary celebrations in 2008 was a wonderful night for community sport and hoped not to have “to wait another 100 years to get that’’.
He suggested the first fall of fame function could be held to correspond with the return of football in 2021.
“How good would that be, get footy back in 2021 and we could start off with a season launch and hall of fame dinner,’’ he said.
“And then in 2022 it would be mid year.’’
AFL South East chief operating officer Shaun Connell said a hall of fame for the MPNFL had been discussed.
“It’s a concept we’ve had internal conversations about,’’ he said.
“From a historical and recognition point of view I think it’s a terrific concept that can lift people’s spirits.
“The competition is steeped in history and tradition. There are certainly plenty of worthy people out there that’s for sure.’’
Swayn said legendary players such as Kevin “Doc” White, who captain-coached Chelsea to five premierships from 1961 to ‘68, would be recognised.
He said the many AFL players to come out of the MPNFL could also be acknowledged and suggested someone like Dermott Brereton, Rob Harvey or Justin Peckett could speak at the function.
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