Australian Football Hall of Fame 2026: Bill Walker Elevated to Legend, Six New Inductees
The Australian Football Hall of Fame held its annual ceremony on June 9, 2026, at Crown Palladium in Melbourne, broadcast live on Fox Footy and Kayo Sports. Six individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame, and Bill Walker was elevated to Legend status, becoming the 34th person to receive that honor.
Bill Walker joins an elite group of Legends who spent the majority of their careers outside the VFL/AFL.
Legend Status: Bill Walker
Bill Walker was elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame. Walker played as a rover for Swan Districts in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) from 1961 to 1976, accumulating 305 games and kicking 456 goals. He won four Sandover Medals, five club champion awards, and was part of three consecutive Swan Districts premierships in 1961, 1962, and 1963. Walker also played 21 games for Western Australia and was selected in the All-Australian team in 1969. His elevation to Legend status was announced earlier in February 2026.
New Inductees
Six new individuals were inducted into the Hall of Fame:
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Gary Ablett Jr.: Played for Geelong (2001–2010, 2018–2020) and Gold Coast (2011–2016). He won two Brownlow Medals (2009, 2013), two AFL premierships with Geelong (2007, 2009), and is an eight-time All-Australian. He retired at the end of the 2020 season.
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Dustin Fletcher: Played 400 AFL/VFL games, primarily for Essendon. He won two AFL premierships with the club in 1993 and 2000.
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David Kantilla (posthumous): A ruckman from the Tiwi Islands, Kantilla played 113 games for South Adelaide in the SANFL from 1961 to 1966, winning a premiership in 1964. He also played for St Mary's in the NTFL. He is named in the Australian Football Indigenous Team of the Century.
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Hayden Kennedy: Officiated 495 AFL games as an umpire from 1991 to 2011, including five Grand Finals and 39 finals. He later coached AFL umpires from 2013 to 2021 and currently coaches VFL umpires.
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Tim Evans: Played for Port Adelaide in the SANFL from 1977 to 1985, kicking over 1000 goals. He was a four-time premiership player (1977, 1979, 1980, 1981) and led the SANFL goalkicking six times.
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John Worsfold: Played 209 games for the West Coast Eagles from 1987 to 1998, captaining the team to AFL premierships in 1992 and 1994. He later coached West Coast from 2002 to 2013, including the 2006 premiership, and served as head of football for the club.
Eligibility and Context
Individuals eligible for Hall of Fame induction include players, coaches, umpires, administrators, and media members. AFL players must be retired for at least five years. The 2026 class marks the first year of eligibility for players who retired in 2020, including Gary Ablett Jr., Kade Simpson, and Harry Taylor. Other notable players who became eligible for the first time in 2026 include Jarryd Roughead, Jordan Lewis, Jarrad McVeigh, Aaron Sandilands, and Steve Johnson.
Shaun Burgoyne and Eddie Betts will become eligible in 2027. David Mundy, Joel Selwood, and both Josh Kennedys will become eligible in 2028.
The 2025 class of inductees included Garry Lyon, John Leedham, Peter Darley, Luke Hodge, George Owens, Nick Riewoldt, Erin Phillips, and Daisy Pearce.
Bill Walker joins a group of Legends who spent the majority of their careers outside the VFL/AFL, including Ken Farmer, Russell Ebert, Merv McIntosh, Jack Oatey, Barrie Robran, and Graham 'Polly' Farmer.