Scott West crowned an AFL Hall of Fame member

HALL OF FAME: SCOTT West was a mad Essendon fan as a boy growing up in Keilor. The kid in the house over the back fence was a Footscray tragic.

SCOTT West was a mad Essendon fan as a boy growing up in Keilor. The kid in the house over the back fence was a Footscray tragic.

But by a twist of fate West would end up spending 19 years playing in a Bulldogs jumper, while his neighbour Ricky Olarenshaw would make a name for himself as a Bomber.

See the best of West in action

It was only when West's older brother Troy, who was training with Essendon, was tapped on the shoulder and told that he actually lived in Footscray's zone that Scott learned he was in the Doggies' zone and his destiny was set as one of the true Sons of the West.

BELOW: Click through to the rest of the 2013 Hall of Fame inductees and Legend Royce Hart

Troy, Scott and his twin brother Brent had always been competitive about their football.

Hart of class
 

"Don't tell my mum this but we used to play footy in the back room either with rolled-up socks or a soft footy,'' West said. "At times it did get a little fiery - that's where they really needed to have the video goal review, because there was some really contentious decisions.

Scott West

"There was a bit of bloodshed, a few tears. But I think what happens in the play room stays in the play room.''

The die was cast after his older brother's Essendon experience. Troy went to train with the Dogs before going on to a storied career with VFA team Williamstown. Footscray, however, asked his 15-year-old brother down to Whitten Oval in 1990, inviting him to play an Under 19s game against the Swans in Sydney.

"After that I never really left the place,'' West said.

Breaking into the team in 1993 was something he had dreamed about since he was "a five or six-year-old going to bed with a K-Mart plastic footy under my arm''.

"I was obsessed with football, it was something I always wanted to do,'' he said. "Being picked for my first game in Round 1 of 1993 -- under lights against Collingwood at the MCG - it was the realisation of a boyhood dream.''

The moment he began to believe he might belong in that company came three weeks later, when he kicked a career-high six goals playing on a forward flank against the Essendon players he had idolised as a boy.

Scott West

Collingwood featured in another great memory at the other end of his career: the brave 2006 elimination final win that set up the chance for West and Rohan Smith to run out in their 300th games together the following week against West Coast. The Dogs would lose that semi-final, epitomising what West acknowledged was the most disappointing aspect of his career.

"It left a huge hole in my life and career that I never got to play in a winning grand final, or even the chance to play in one,'' West said.

He singled out the dramatic 1997 preliminary final loss to Adelaide, which the Dogs let slip after leading by 23 points in the final quarter.

"Just the heartbreak of losing that match,'' said West, who had 28 kicks and five handballs that day. "The guys from that team, we still talk about it being an absolute opportunity missed.''

After more finals anguish in 1998 and' 99 West entertained the idea of crossing to Collingwood. "The window was closing and I certainly had serious discussions about going to Collingwood,'' he said, "but I guess in the end loyalty stopped me from going.''

That is the other enduring that he takes from his time at Whitten Oval: a tight group of players surrounded by a quality core of passionate people.

"The club was on its knee when I first got there (1990) and again in 1996,'' he said. "But it was the remarkable people involved there, and the efforts of individuals and the community that have made the club what it is today. I know that from a footy sense that they're on a rebuild and heading in the right direction, but they've got a great facility out there, they're strong in the community, and I can say they are now a very successful club.

"And I say that because they're still around, whereas a lot of organisations in their situation would have said it was too hard and turned up their toes.''

He feels honoured at becoming just the 11th Bulldog to join the Australian football hall of fame, and had to check twice when the notification arrived from AFL headquarters a few weeks ago.

"It was an express post envelop with no official markings or anything,'' West recalled. "My wife (Leshelle) opened it and came into the walk-in robe where I was taking off my shoes and said `I think you better take a look at this'.

"It was just as well I was sitting down because it was a bit surreal to be reading what I was reading. I had to check that it was official and not someone playing a gag on me.''

Best player seen: Gary Ablett Jr

"It's a big call but he's virtually unstoppable. It was one thing to do what he did when he had so many great players around him at Geelong, but to still do it at Gold Coast when all of the attention is on him is just a phenomenal effort.''

Best played against: Michael Voss

"His strength, skill, ability to run, and he had that little bit of extra height, it all made him such a difficult footballer to match up on. And his greatest asset, which all the great players have got, was his never-say die competitiveness.''

Best played with: Scott Wynd

"Great tap ruckman, skilful for his size, had great authority. He was so respected for what he did week-in week-out on the field, but also what he did just to (overcome injury and) play. He was hardly ever be beaten, and had a great ability to make an impact on games.''