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SA: Footy commissioner honoured
By Sam Lienert
ADELAIDE, June 9 AAP - He helped rescue the fledgling Sydney Swans from crisis in 1984 and was a founding father of the Adelaide Crows.
AFL commissioner Bob Hammond's role in the creation of a national competition has now led to him being appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.
"I think it's more for the people that have helped me in football from junior days to current positions, more than anything else," he told AAP.
"There's so many of them you don't like to name one."
Mr Hammond said his roles with the Swans and the Crows were unique experiences among a lifetime of football involvement, which has included numerous premierships as a player, coach and administrator.
It also included a brief stint as caretaker coach of the Swans in 1984, who were struggling under VFL administration two years after they had relocated from Melbourne to become the first non-Victorian VFL side.
It followed the mid-season resignation of then coach Ricky Quade, after an altercation with skipper Barry Round, which resulted in Quade ending up in hospital.
"I got a call out of the blue from (VFL administrator) Alan Schwab," Mr Hammond said.
"He said Ricky Quade was ill and would I take over as a caretaker coach.
"That was on a Monday morning and by Wednesday I was in Sydney coaching the side.
"I only agreed to it as a caretaker, because I was in the supermarket industry in South Australia.
"It was a unique experience and a terrific opportunity to be involved.
"It's ironic that I was involved a number of years later in the formation of a club to enter the AFL."
Mr Hammond was the founding chairman of the Crows, a position he held for the club's first decade in the AFL, a time which included the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships.
He said he never expected a side formed from the best SANFL players, starting in turbulent circumstances and with no off-field infrastructure, to become an AFL powerhouse on and off the field so quickly.
"I take great pride in being one person among a number that helped that happen," he said.
By Sam Lienert
ADELAIDE, June 9 AAP - He helped rescue the fledgling Sydney Swans from crisis in 1984 and was a founding father of the Adelaide Crows.
AFL commissioner Bob Hammond's role in the creation of a national competition has now led to him being appointed a Member (AM) of the Order of Australia.
"I think it's more for the people that have helped me in football from junior days to current positions, more than anything else," he told AAP.
"There's so many of them you don't like to name one."
Mr Hammond said his roles with the Swans and the Crows were unique experiences among a lifetime of football involvement, which has included numerous premierships as a player, coach and administrator.
It also included a brief stint as caretaker coach of the Swans in 1984, who were struggling under VFL administration two years after they had relocated from Melbourne to become the first non-Victorian VFL side.
It followed the mid-season resignation of then coach Ricky Quade, after an altercation with skipper Barry Round, which resulted in Quade ending up in hospital.
"I got a call out of the blue from (VFL administrator) Alan Schwab," Mr Hammond said.
"He said Ricky Quade was ill and would I take over as a caretaker coach.
"That was on a Monday morning and by Wednesday I was in Sydney coaching the side.
"I only agreed to it as a caretaker, because I was in the supermarket industry in South Australia.
"It was a unique experience and a terrific opportunity to be involved.
"It's ironic that I was involved a number of years later in the formation of a club to enter the AFL."
Mr Hammond was the founding chairman of the Crows, a position he held for the club's first decade in the AFL, a time which included the 1997 and 1998 AFL premierships.
He said he never expected a side formed from the best SANFL players, starting in turbulent circumstances and with no off-field infrastructure, to become an AFL powerhouse on and off the field so quickly.
"I take great pride in being one person among a number that helped that happen," he said.
