Hawthorn FC - The Main Event 2007

Hawthorn champions Gary Ayres, Chris Langford and Stan Spinks (dec.) were inducted into the Club’s Hall of Fame last Friday night in front of over 500 people at the Sofitel Melbourne.

Ayres’ induction accolade was presented by former teammate Dermott Brereton while Langford received his award from premiership player Bob Keddie. Stan Spinks’ award was presented to his niece Judy Sammut by Hawthorn Past President Phil Ryan.

Brownlow medalist and former Hawthorn captain Shane Crawford was also honoured on the night with AFL life membership, which was presented by Langford in his role as AFL Commissioner.

In a combined event, that included the Season Launch and Confrere’s Player Auction, the 2007 team was also presented with their jumpers by Senior Coach Alastair Clarkson and assistant coaches Todd Viney, Damien Hardwick and Ross Smith.

Mitch Thorp, Brent Renouf, Jarryd Morton, Josh Kennedy, Garry Moss, Matt Suckling, Brett Collins and Sam Gibson received their first Hawthorn jumper while Shane Crawford received his jumper for the fifteenth time and Ben Dixon for the eleventh.

 

Hall of Fame Profiles
Gary Ayres
Recruited from: Warragul
DOB: 28 September 1960
Years: 1978-1993
Games: 269
Goals: 70
Jumper number: 7
Premierships: 1983, 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991
Night premierships: 1985, 1986, 1989, 1991, 1992
Club Champion: 1986
Second Club Champion: 1989
State representative: 6 (captained Victoria 1989)
Norm Smith Medal: 1986, 1988
Vice-captain: 1987-1991
Hawthorn FC Team of the Century 2001
AFL Hall of Fame 1999

Chris Langford
Recruited from: Melbourne Grammar
DOB: February 2 1963
Years: 1983-1997
Games: 303
Goals: 33
Jumper numbers: 28 (1983-1986), 24 (1987-1997)
Captain: 1994
Premierships: 1986, 1988, 1989, 1991
Night premierships: 1986, 1988, 1991, 1992
Third Club Champion: 1987, 1989, 1991, 1993
State representative: 8
Hawthorn FC Team of the Century 2001

Stan Spinks
Recruited from: Auburn
DOB: October 16 1912
Years: 1932 – 1941
Games: 142
Goals: 19
Jumper numbers: 29 (1932), 8 (1933-41)
Best and fairest: 1932, 1938
Second best and fairest: 1933, 1935, 1940
Second Brownlow medal: 1937, 1938
Most Brownlow votes: 1933, 1934, 1938, 1939, 1940
State representative: 4 times
Coach Third 18: 1946
Hawthorn FC selection committee
Hawthorn FC general committee