FAREWELL TO A CHAMP
AFL chairman Richard Goyder has hailed the lasting impact of Australian Football Hall of Fame member Bob Hammond, who died on Saturday at the age of 78.
Widely considered one of the most influential people in South Australian football during a six-decade contribution to the game, Hammond died in Adelaide after a battle with Parkinson’s disease.
He was a triple-premiership player with North Adelaide, coached Norwood to two flags and was the inaugural Adelaide Crows chairman, overseeing the club’s first two AFL premierships. He also coached the Sydney Swans and South Australia.
Hammond later served on the AFL Commission from 2001-2011 and is one of only 16 administrators to be honoured with Hall of Fame induction, which he received in 2015.
“(Hammond) had the ability to look at what was good for the whole of the game, and to drive towards those outcomes, coming from a background of success at every club he had been a part of through his lifetime,” Goyder said.
“Above all, he will be remembered as a wonderful strong and hard defender for his beloved North Adelaide, a member of their Team of the Century, and in that rare club of Roosters who was a part of three separate premiership teams, yet equally beloved at Norwood for delivering the club out of the wilderness.”
Current Crows chairman Rob Chapman said Hammond had made a rich contribution to football, especially in his administrative role with South Australia’s first AFL club.
“Bob played a significant role in smoothing the club’s path into the national competition and his intellect, vision and hard work laid the foundation from which we have flourished,” Chapman said.
“As a player, he was strong and hard but as a person he always showed great care for others and on a personal level, his sage advice was always timely and on point.”
Hammond’s son, Craig, said his father, who was surrounded by close family when he died, had lived a rich life.
“Dad lived a full and busy life and we have a lifetime of memories from the guidance and support he provided to everyone in our family,” Craig Hammond said.