Latest news with #SportAustraliaHallOfFame
ABC News
4 days ago
- Entertainment
- ABC News
BONUS: Mark Schwarzer UNCUT
BONUS: This week we spoke to Mark Schwarzer the day he was unveiled as joining Sport Australia's Hall of Fame. The interview was too long for our normal format, but it was too good to leave on the cutting room floor. SO, we've decided to give you the whole thing unedited here. Please enjoy Mark's ruminations on his amazing career, the state of the game and the future of the sport at home and abroad. Featured: Mark Schwarzer, Socceroos legend.
The Advertiser
5 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
'Hard to fill the void' - Dunstall on choosing a coach
Melbourne, know yourselves. It's the key piece of advice that Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall has for the Demons and any AFL club looking for a new coach. Dunstall was announced as a Sport Australia Hall Of Fame inductee on Thursday, a year after his elevation to legend status at the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. It was also two days after Melbourne sacked Simon Goodwin. A few hours after Dunstall spoke about his latest honour at an MCG media conference, Carlton ended rampant speculation about Michael Voss's future by confirming he will coach them next season. As much as Dunstall is rightly feted for being a goalkicking machine at Hawthorn, he also had a massive influence at the club after he retired. In particular, he was a football director when the Hawks appointed Alastair Clarkson as coach in 2004. It was a highly controversial decision that proved a masterstroke, with Clarkson coaching the Hawks to four premierships. "The No.1 priority is understanding your own footy club and its needs before you then work out who you're going to get to come in," Dunstall told AAP. "If you don't understand exactly where you are and exactly what you need, it's very hard to fill the void." TV presenter and avid Hawthorn fan Stephen Quartermain famously voiced his disapproval about Clarkson's appointment. "Quarters ... he came around pretty quick though," Dunstall chuckled. Four years after Clarkson joined Hawthorn, they upset Geelong in the 2008 grand final. In terms of his AFL career highlights, Dunstall said that is "way up there". "I was as proud of the '08 flag as any that I played in," said the four-time Hawks premiership star. "That was four years after we'd done what we did and we were rock-bottom. "We got belted the first year - by some big, big margins. "But to win it in '08, four years after everyone was critical of us - we were getting bagged left-right and centre, there wasn't a lot of confidence about Clarko being the guy we appointed - I enjoyed that as much as anything in football." Melbourne, know yourselves. It's the key piece of advice that Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall has for the Demons and any AFL club looking for a new coach. Dunstall was announced as a Sport Australia Hall Of Fame inductee on Thursday, a year after his elevation to legend status at the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. It was also two days after Melbourne sacked Simon Goodwin. A few hours after Dunstall spoke about his latest honour at an MCG media conference, Carlton ended rampant speculation about Michael Voss's future by confirming he will coach them next season. As much as Dunstall is rightly feted for being a goalkicking machine at Hawthorn, he also had a massive influence at the club after he retired. In particular, he was a football director when the Hawks appointed Alastair Clarkson as coach in 2004. It was a highly controversial decision that proved a masterstroke, with Clarkson coaching the Hawks to four premierships. "The No.1 priority is understanding your own footy club and its needs before you then work out who you're going to get to come in," Dunstall told AAP. "If you don't understand exactly where you are and exactly what you need, it's very hard to fill the void." TV presenter and avid Hawthorn fan Stephen Quartermain famously voiced his disapproval about Clarkson's appointment. "Quarters ... he came around pretty quick though," Dunstall chuckled. Four years after Clarkson joined Hawthorn, they upset Geelong in the 2008 grand final. In terms of his AFL career highlights, Dunstall said that is "way up there". "I was as proud of the '08 flag as any that I played in," said the four-time Hawks premiership star. "That was four years after we'd done what we did and we were rock-bottom. "We got belted the first year - by some big, big margins. "But to win it in '08, four years after everyone was critical of us - we were getting bagged left-right and centre, there wasn't a lot of confidence about Clarko being the guy we appointed - I enjoyed that as much as anything in football." Melbourne, know yourselves. It's the key piece of advice that Hawthorn great Jason Dunstall has for the Demons and any AFL club looking for a new coach. Dunstall was announced as a Sport Australia Hall Of Fame inductee on Thursday, a year after his elevation to legend status at the Australian Football Hall Of Fame. It was also two days after Melbourne sacked Simon Goodwin. A few hours after Dunstall spoke about his latest honour at an MCG media conference, Carlton ended rampant speculation about Michael Voss's future by confirming he will coach them next season. As much as Dunstall is rightly feted for being a goalkicking machine at Hawthorn, he also had a massive influence at the club after he retired. In particular, he was a football director when the Hawks appointed Alastair Clarkson as coach in 2004. It was a highly controversial decision that proved a masterstroke, with Clarkson coaching the Hawks to four premierships. "The No.1 priority is understanding your own footy club and its needs before you then work out who you're going to get to come in," Dunstall told AAP. "If you don't understand exactly where you are and exactly what you need, it's very hard to fill the void." TV presenter and avid Hawthorn fan Stephen Quartermain famously voiced his disapproval about Clarkson's appointment. "Quarters ... he came around pretty quick though," Dunstall chuckled. Four years after Clarkson joined Hawthorn, they upset Geelong in the 2008 grand final. In terms of his AFL career highlights, Dunstall said that is "way up there". "I was as proud of the '08 flag as any that I played in," said the four-time Hawks premiership star. "That was four years after we'd done what we did and we were rock-bottom. "We got belted the first year - by some big, big margins. "But to win it in '08, four years after everyone was critical of us - we were getting bagged left-right and centre, there wasn't a lot of confidence about Clarko being the guy we appointed - I enjoyed that as much as anything in football."
7NEWS
5 days ago
- Sport
- 7NEWS
AFL legend Jason Dunstall and netball great Laura Geitz headline Hall of Fame inductees
At 13, Laura Geitz was about as tall as she is now. She was a first-year high school student in country Queensland, just trying to fit in and wishing her 190cm frame did not make her stand out so much. At 20, Jason Dunstall was enjoying an outstanding debut senior season at local Brisbane club Coorparoo. Dunstall had tried rugby union and soccer at school, but settled on Australian Rules as he tried to work out what his degree focus should be at university. Then Geitz discovered netball and Hawthorn coach Allan Jeans discovered Dunstall. And the rest is glorious history. On Friday, Geitz and Dunstall joined veteran sports physician Dr Peter Harcourt at the MCG to be confirmed among this year's Sport Australia Hall Of Fame inductees. Winter Olympics gold medallist Torah Bright, former tennis world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt and Australia's most-capped soccer international Mark Schwarzer are overseas. Rugby league great Cameron Smith could not attend because of illness. As Hall Of Fame chair John Bertrand presented her medal, Geitz marvelled at the sliding doors moment when she discovered the sport where she became an all-time great. 'I was particularly shy and uncertain of myself. I was about the same height as I am now ... so that made life really easy in the first year of high school,' Geitz said ruefully. 'I suppose that very first experience of that game was what netball gave me for my entire career, and that was somewhere ... that made me feel very comfortable. 'My height was to my advantage and I just fell in love with the game.' Geitz immediately saw the future - but her Mum needed some convincing. 'I came home and told my Mum that I was going to play for Quensland and Australia,' she said. 'She was pretty humble and said 'maybe we should set some other goals' - so I always remind her of her lack of support in those early days.' Dunstall's honour comes a year after he was elevated to legend status in the Australian football Hall Of Fame. He is one of only six VFL/AFL players to kick more than 1000 goals and a towering figure in Hawthorn history - not just for his playing exploits, but also as a key official when they appointed Alastair Clarkson as coach. Now a prominent AFL commentator, he chuckled when asked about the 'festival of Dunstall' with the two hall of fame honours. 'It's been a big couple of years - I'm as surprised as anyone,' he told AAP. Of this latest honour, Dunstall said: 'it's very humbling - my first thought is we just play a domestic sport, footy, and we have fun doing it. 'To be recognised amongst a group of incredible sporting people ... who have competed on the international stage and achieved great things for Australia, kind-of puts it into a little bit of perspective.' This is the 40th anniversary of the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame. The induction dinner will be held on November 17, with two legends also to be honoured. 2025 SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Torah Bright - snowboarder, most successful Australian women's winter Olympian with one gold and one silver across three Games. Jason Dunstall - 1254 goals, four-time premiership player, Australian Football Hall Of Fame legend. Laura Geitz - Australian netball captain. Two-time World Cup champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Dr Peter Harcourt - more than four decades in medicine across a wide range of sports and organisations. Lleyton Hewitt - world No.1 tennis player, two-time grand slam champion. Mark Schwarzer - goalkeeper, most-capped Socceroo with 109, including two World Cups. Only non-Briton to make more than 500 English Premier League appearances. Cameron Smith- three-time Melbourne Storm premiership player. Only NRL player to reach 400 games. All-time record points scorer with 2786.
Perth Now
5 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Sliding doors moments set up stars for sports greatness
At 13, Laura Geitz was about as tall as she is now. She was a first-year high school student in country Queensland, just trying to fit in and wishing her 190cm frame did not make her stand out so much. At 20, Jason Dunstall was enjoying an outstanding debut senior season at local Brisbane club Coorparoo. Dunstall had tried rugby union and soccer at school, but settled on Australian Rules as he tried to work out what his degree focus should be at university. Then Geitz discovered netball and Hawthorn coach Allan Jeans discovered Dunstall. And the rest is glorious history. On Friday, Geitz and Dunstall joined veteran sports physician Dr Peter Harcourt at the MCG to be confirmed among this year's Sport Australia Hall Of Fame inductees. Winter Olympics gold medallist Torah Bright, former tennis world No.1 Lleyton Hewitt and Australia's most-capped soccer international Mark Schwarzer are overseas. Rugby league great Cameron Smith could not attend because of illness. As Hall Of Fame chair John Bertrand presented her medal, Geitz marvelled at the sliding doors moment when she discovered the sport where she became an all-time great. 'I was particularly shy and uncertain of myself. I was about the same height as I am now ... so that made life really easy in the first year of high school,' Geitz said ruefully. 'I suppose that very first experience of that game was what netball gave me for my entire career, and that was somewhere ... that made me feel very comfortable. 'My height was to my advantage and I just fell in love with the game.' Geitz immediately saw the future - but her Mum needed some convincing. 'I came home and told my Mum that I was going to play for Quensland and Australia,' she said. 'She was pretty humble and said 'maybe we should set some other goals' - so I always remind her of her lack of support in those early days.' Dunstall's honour comes a year after he was elevated to legend status in the Australian football Hall Of Fame. He is one of only six VFL/AFL players to kick more than 1000 goals and a towering figure in Hawthorn history - not just for his playing exploits, but also as a key official when they appointed Alastair Clarkson as coach. Now a prominent AFL commentator, he chuckled when asked about the 'festival of Dunstall' with the two hall of fame honours. 'It's been a big couple of years - I'm as surprised as anyone,' he told AAP. Of this latest honour, Dunstall said: 'it's very humbling - my first thought is we just play a domestic sport, footy, and we have fun doing it. 'To be recognised amongst a group of incredible sporting people ... who have competed on the international stage and achieved great things for Australia, kind-of puts it into a little bit of perspective.' This is the 40th anniversary of the Sport Australia Hall Of Fame. The induction dinner will be held on November 17, with two legends also to be honoured. 2025 SPORT AUSTRALIA HALL OF FAME INDUCTEES Torah Bright - snowboarder, most successful Australian women's winter Olympian with one gold and one silver across three Games. Jason Dunstall - 1254 goals, four-time premiership player, Australian Football Hall Of Fame legend. Laura Geitz - Australian netball captain. Two-time World Cup champion, Commonwealth Games gold medallist. Dr Peter Harcourt - more than four decades in medicine across a wide range of sports and organisations. Lleyton Hewitt - world No.1 tennis player, two-time grand slam champion. Mark Schwarzer - goalkeeper, most-capped Socceroo with 109, including two World Cups. Only non-Briton to make more than 500 English Premier League appearances. Cameron Smith- three-time Melbourne Storm premiership player. Only NRL player to reach 400 games. All-time record points scorer with 2786.
News.com.au
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- News.com.au
Lleyton Hewitt, Cameron Smith inducted into Sport Australia Hall of Fame
Australian tennis champion Lleyton Hewitt called it 'surreal' and NRL legend Cameron Smith an 'incredible honour' as the iconic duo were among six new inductees to the ultimate collection of sporting champions in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. Recently named an official AFL legend, goalkicking great Jason Dunstall, Netball World Cup winning captain Laura Geitz, Australia's most capped Socceroo Mark Schwarzer and Olympic snowboarding gold medallist Torah Bright rounded out the superstar six. They joined the absolute elite, the best in Australian sport ever, including Sir Donald Bradman, Dawn Fraser and Cathy Freeman, in the Hall of Fame, which recognises only the top echelon of athletes who have achieved the highest honours at the peak level of competition. Hewitt, a two-time grand slam winner and former world No. 1, a ranking he held for 75 consecutive weeks, is already in the International Tennis Hall of Fame and Australian Tennis Hall of Fame but was blown away by the latest honours. 'It's pretty surreal to be honest,' he said. 'When you're playing your professional career it's not something you think about at all or focus on, but over the years growing up in Australia we've had such a rich history, not only in our sport of tennis, but also in so many other great sports as well, that I've had so many great role models and idols that I've looked up to, all there in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame. 'So for me now to be inducted is an incredible honour.'' Smith, the first and only player to reach 400 NRL games as well as 42 State of Origin matches for Queensland and 56 Tests for the Kangaroos, including 33 as his nation's captain, was also a multiple premiership skipper with the Melbourne Storm. But he said his legacy was growing rugby league in his adopted home state. 'It is an incredible honour, one that I will forever hold with great pride,' he said of his induction. 'It's also a reminder of the people who supported me throughout my entire rugby league journey. My parents, my sister and brother, my wife Barb and our three children. Without their love and support I would not have achieved what I did. For that I will always be grateful. 'Being the first person to play 400 NRL games will always be on top of the personal achievements in my sporting career. On a broader scale, playing a role in the growth of rugby league in Victoria as a member of the Melbourne Storm provides me with immense satisfaction. 'I will always be grateful for being a part of such an extraordinary organisation.' Dunstall booted an incredible 1254 goals from 269 games with Hawthorn and is one of only six players in VFL/AFL history to break through the 1000-goal threshold, while also playing in four premierships (1986, 1988, 1989, 1991). 'It's an amazing honour and great privilege to be considered a worthy induction into the Sport Australia Hall of Fame,' he said. 'Quite humbling given the depth of Australian sport and the incredible quality of our sporting stars.' Netball icon Geitz was a member of two Netball World Cup-winning teams in 2011 and 2015, the latter as the Diamonds captain in a home country triumph in Sydney, and also led Australia to Commonwealth Games glory in Glasgow in 2014. Schwarzer was part of three World Cup campaigns with the Socceroos and played at the highest level in the UK for two decades. His iconic saves changed Australia's World Cup fortunes, stopping two penalties against Uruguay in a 2006 qualifier, and etched his name in Australian football history. Bright is Australia's most successful winter Olympians, having captured one gold and one silver medal across three Olympic Games and also carried Australia's flag at the opening ceremony in Vancouver in 2010.
