Disgraced AFL legend to face historical sexual abuse charges in District Court

Disgraced AFL legend Barry Cable has maintained his innocence over historical sexual abuse allegations dating back almost 60 years.

Disgraced AFL legend Barry Cable has maintained his innocence in the Perth Magistrates Court over historical sexual abuse claims that occurred more than five decades ago.

Cable has been charged with seven offences that allegedly involved a girl aged nine and 10 at the time of the alleged offending.

Police charged Cable in May, and he pleaded not guilty to those offences in the Perth Magistrates Court days later.

Barry Cable says he is not guilty of historical child sex offences. Picture: NewsWire/ Emma Kirk

On Thursday, Cable’s defence lawyer told the magistrate that his client maintained pleas of not guilty to all charges and the matter was moved to the District Court.

Cable has been charged with five counts of indecent dealing with a girl under 13 and two counts of unlawful carnal knowledge of a girl under 13.

The former AFL Hall of Famer would have been aged 24 at the time of the alleged offences.

That was at the prime of his football career, winning WAFL premierships in both 1967 and 1968.

Cable was stripped of his sporting accolades following the allegations. Picture: 7News

Cable has been stripped of his AFL Legend and Hall of Fame status.

North Melbourne also removed him from their Hall of Fame, as did the Sport Australia Hall of Fame.

The WA Institute of Sport Hall of Champions and WA Football Commission Hall of Fame also dumped him.

Cable is due to face the District Court on January 31, 2025.

Originally published as Disgraced AFL legend to face historical sexual abuse charges in District Court