The AFL and North Melbourne have removed former player Barry Cable from their respective halls of fame, while he has been stripped of his status as an AFL Legend.
The decision from both parties comes following a ruling in a Western Australian court earlier this month which found Cable had sexually assaulted a young girl during his playing career.
Four other women said they'd been sexually assaulted by the now-79-year-old.
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In announcing the decision to strip him of the honours, AFL Commission Chair Richard Goyder said a change had been made to the Australian Football Hall of Fame charter to allow for the removal of an inductee on the grounds of bringing the game into disrepute.
“The finding of Judge Herron was incredibly serious and distressing and the thoughts of the AFL Commission are entirely with the victim, who bravely told her story and the other women who courageously came forward during the course of the trial to tell their stories. We acknowledge the courage it has taken to reach an outcome through the courts in WA,” Goyder said.
“Once the court ruling was handed down it was incumbent on the Commission and the game to immediately examine the facts of this matter and the horrific nature of these events required that Barry Cable can no longer be considered for any honours that the Hall of Fame or football can bestow.
“At our last Commission meeting we moved to alter the charter for the Australian Football Hall of Fame, to include a new section that allows for the AFL Commission to remove any person for conduct which brings the AFL, the Hall of Fame inductee, any AFL Club or Australian football into disrepute.
“Induction into the Hall of Fame and designation of Legend Status will immediately be removed.”
North Melbourne president Sonja Hood passed on the club's wishes to the victims and their families.
“The decision to remove Cable from the Hall of Fame was unanimous by the Board,” Hood said.
“The contents of Judge Herron’s findings were incredibly disturbing and we commend the women for their resilience and courage in coming forward to tell their stories.
“Our thoughts are with them and their families.”
