Disgraced former footballer, Barry Cable, is being immediately removed from the Australian Football Hall of Fame and will no longer be designated as one of the game’s official legends.
Key points:
- The AFL Commission made the decision during a meeting today
- It comes after a Perth court ruled he sexually abused a young girl in civil proceedings
- The WA Football Commission removed Cable its Hall of Fame last week
The announcement comes as the North Melbourne Football Club for whom Cable played and later coached, also revealed it would ditch the now 79-year-old from its Hall of Fame.
Earlier this month, a Perth judge ruled Cable sexually abused a young girl, starting from when she was just 12 years old.
The woman, who is now aged in her 60s, was awarded $818,700 for the “catastrophic” damage she suffered, after launching a civil action in 2019.
‘Incredibly serious and distressing’
AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder announced the commission had made the decision to remove Cable from the Hall of Fame at its meeting in Melbourne today, following the ruling in Western Australia’s District Court that Cable had repeatedly sexually assaulted the girl during his playing career.
“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,” Mr 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.”
Cable stripped of more accolades
North Melbourne club president Sonja Hood said the District court’s judgement had included various findings which were not previously known to the club.
“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,” Dr Hood said.
“Our thoughts are with them and their families.”
The announcements come after the WA Football Commission last week stripped Cable of his Hall of Fame membership and legend status.
The Western Australian Institute of Sport has also removed Cable from its Hall of Champions.
Cable, who turns 80 in September, has always categorically denied the allegations.
While the woman was awarded $818,700, it is unlikely she will receive any money because the court was told the month before the trial, Cable had been declared bankrupt.
Acclaimed football career
Cable had a lengthy and successful playing career in the Victorian and West Australian Football leagues, and is regarded as one of the greatest Australian footballers in history.
He won two VFL premierships with North Melbourne, four WAFL premierships and three Sandover medals for being the WA competition’s best and fairest player.
His playing career lasted from 1962 and 1979, and he also spent time as East Perth’s captain-coach.
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