The person elevated will either be a coach or player from the two premiership-winning sides.
They will become the seventh Hawthorn Football Club Legend, joining John Kennedy Snr, Leigh Matthews, Graham Arthur, Michael Tuck, Peter Hudson and Parkin.
Hawthorn members and supporters have the opportunity to see the Legend revealed live at the 25-year anniversary event to be held on Saturday 12 July at Crown Palladium. View more information and buy tickets.
Below are the players and coaches eligible to be elevated to Legend status.
1988 and 1989 Premiership players in Hawthorn's Hall of Fame
Gary AyresGary Ayres was one of the toughest, most relentless Hawks making a name for himself as a solid core defender in the great sides of the 1980s. Cool in a crisis, coach Allan Jeans paid him the ultimate tribute; “A great driver in heavy traffic” - a tribute to his ability to handle pressure when need be. Ayres was often moved to the centre in difficult games with telling effect. He created history to be the first player to win two Norm Smith medals, named best on ground in the 1986 & 1988 premierships.
Dermott Brereton
Brereton was one of the most exciting players of his era. His flamboyance endeared him to all Hawk fans whilst infuriating his rivals. He kicked five goals in his first game, the first semi-final against North Melbourne in 1982. He revelled in the heat of battle and would do anything to create a distraction to the opposition. He was capable of turning many a game with his immense talent, taking contested marks, telling kicks for goal combined with an ability to intimidate his opponents. Such was his love for the Hawks; he returned as a board member and assisted with training under coach Peter Schwab.
Gary Buckenara
A natural sportsman, Buckenara was very talented at both football and cricket. He was very damaging player either on the ball or on a half forward flank displaying excellent all-round skills. Buckenara was a superb mark, thrilling the crowd the manner in which he would throw himself at the ball with spectacular leaps high above the pack or low to the ground not unlike a slips catch. He was a prodigious kick for goal often of one step and he is fondly remembered by his fans for kicking the winning goal after the siren against Melbourne in the 1987 Preliminary Final. Coach Allan Jeans paid him the ultimate tribute, considering him Hawthorn’s best big game player in his time as coach of the Hawks. He returned to the Club firstly on the coaching staff in 2000, followed by becoming in-charge of recruiting in 2004 playing a leading role in assisting the lineup of players for the successful premiership in 2008.
Robert DiPierdomenico
"I was born to play finals" is Dipper’s now famous quote after being considered best on ground in the 1978 premiership. He played in another four premierships for his beloved Hawks. Dipper, in a sense, represented the essence of Hawthorn. He was a battler who made good, and as such echoed the story of the Club itself. He was known for his irrepressible spirit, his toughness, his will to win and attack on the ball. One of only four players at the Club to win the Brownlow Medal, his undoubted courage displayed in the 1989 premiership will live forever in the hearts of his devoted Hawk supporters.
Jason Dunstall
Jason Dunstall developed into a brilliant, unselfish full forward, coming of age in the 1986 grand final with six goals. He was an incredibly strong mark and fast lead. His precision maneuvering of his muscular frame was a stumbling block for the opposition fullbacks. If it wasn’t for a number of serious injuries, a fractured skull in 1990, and two knee injuries late in his career he may have come the greatest goal kicker in the game. Upon his retirement he was the third highest goal kicker in the AFL’s history. He was named in Hawthorn’s Team of the Century in 2002. Dunstall still continues to help the Club in many ways, at training as a skills coach and was recently invited onto the HFC Board.
Allan Jeans
Allan Jeans was one of the greatest coaches in the history of the game. He has left a positive lasting legacy with all that have played under his direction. His homespun sayings are legendary. Perhaps the most famous was his comment on coaching teams, “They’re like sausages – you can boil them, grill them or curry them, but ultimately they’re still sausages." When Jeans arrived at the Club, discontent was rife. Because of his honesty and willingness to get on with the job, he soon won the confidence of the players and in two years the Hawks were back at the helm. With Jeans' leadership, the Club enjoyed a decade of unbelievable success. He guided the Hawks into the finals in 1982 followed by the record-breaking win against Essendon to win the 1983 flag. The great rivalry intensified between the two clubs with the Hawks being runner-up to Essendon in the 1984 and 85 seasons. Jeans' second flag came after a strong win against Carlton in 1986 only to suffer defeat at the hands of the Blues in the 1987 grand final. Jeans missed the 1988 season through illness and in his absence Alan Joyce coached the side that easily accounted for Melbourne in the grand final. Jeans returned in 1989 to lead the team to back-to-back premierships. Many consider this the greatest grand final in living memory as both teams crippled by injury saw the Hawks hang to win by six points. The players credit Jeans' inspirational speech at halftime as the motivation for this success. In recent years on a Thursday night in the social club, Graham Arthur ran the famed Yabbie Cup, named after Jeans. Many of Allan Jeans' former players tried their skills in a game of sporting trivia often fought out with that dogged determination that Jeans demanded on the field. Players delighted the audience with their efforts in mimicking many of Jeans' speeches such was their affection for him.
Chris Langford
Chris Langford was a champion fullback whose strength and consistency was greatly admired. He thrived on the challenge of being able to arrive to the contest and clear the ball no matter how desperate the situation, more than holding his own against opposition. Considered an attacking player, he would often run through the pack, bouncing the ball before delivering it safely to a teammate. Langford struck a chord and became immortalized with the Hawk supporters when he raised his guernsey high in defiance of the proposed merge after the last game in 1996 against Melbourne. Langford will always be remembered for his commitment and passion for his beloved brown and gold guernsey. Appointed to the AFL Commission.
Chris Mew
HFC folklore has it thay coach Allan Jeans pencilled Chris Mew’s name in first each Thursday night and the team was built around him. Such was his worth to the team. Mew was the backbone of the all-conquering sides of the 1980s. He played with apparent disregard for the limelight, leaving all that to his more outgoing teammates. A very long kick and strong mark, he had the skill to counter the best opposition forwards in the competition. Mew retired briefly but was persuaded to return playing a major role in the 1991 premiership, his fifth.
John Platten
John Platten is one of the most unlikely players ever to play VFL/AFL Football. A mere slip of a man, skinny, a great mop of hair but blessed with enormous courage and a real talent for playing football at the highest level, as his Brownlow Medal, All-Australian and premiership honours attest. He had lightening speed and terrific endurance which most taggers had trouble matching. He was also a good mark overhead. He forever would burrow under packs scrounging for the football and loved to kick a goal. Platten was a wonderful on-baller and a major player in the success of the 1986 to 1995 era. A greatly admired teammate and much loved by his adoring fans.
View more stats for these players and other Hawthorn Hall of Famers, visit our Hall of Fame page.
Purchase your back-to-back commemorative guernsey at HawksNest.
