The South Australian football community is mourning the loss of one of its biggest and most passionate advocates.
AFL Football Hall of Fame member and administrator Bob Hammond, 78, died surrounded by family in Adelaide on Saturday following a battle with Parkinson's disease.
Hammond is best known for the massive contribution he made to the sport in South Australia, which spanned over six decades.
Known as a ruthless defender, Hammond won his first SANFL premiership flag as an 18-year-old in his first season with North Adelaide in 1960 and went on to claim two more premierships with the Roosters in an career spanning 248 games.
Tributes are flowing for AFL Football Hall of Fame member and code administrator Bob Hammond (pictured) following his death on Saturday
Hammond played in two of South Australia's greatest sides — the 1963 state team that beat Victoria on the MCG and the 1972 North Adelaide SANFL premiership side he captained to the Champions of Australia title.
Hammond ended his playing career with Norwood, where he stayed on as coach to win two SANFL premierships in 1975 and 1978.
More coaching success followed when he led his beloved SA to a breakthrough State of Origin VFL win against the highly-tipped Victoria side in 1983.
He also coached the Sydney Swans in 1984.
Hammond returned to South Australia and was the inaugural Adelaide Crows chairman when the team entered the VFL in 1991.
He was at the helm when the Crows claimed their AFL premierships in 1997 and 1998.
Hammond played much of his career with North Adelaide, where he won three SANFL flags
He then served he acted as an AFL Commissioner for a decade from 2001-11 and was inducted into AFL Football Hall of Fame in 2015, becoming just the 16th administrator in the code's 160-year history to do so.
He said at the time that football had been his greatest tutor in life.
'Football fashioned my life because of the team spirit and effort required and the highs and the lows,' Hammond said at the time.
Hammond also had the Crows players' race named after him, which was unveiled at the Adelaide Oval in 2014.
'I was really humbled and quite emotional about it actually,' Hammond told the Adelaide Advertiser at the unveiling.
'I'm thrilled the race bears my name and I accept it on behalf of all the Crows supporters, members, players, coaches and administrators who have been part of the club for 24 years.
'I would like them all to feel they are a part of this race.'
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AFL chairman Richard Goyder paid tribute to Hammond's invaluable contribution to the code.
'Bob served Australian football as an esteemed coach and club administrator, before taking on the task of building the overall strength of our sport as a Commissioner, working for a decade to build our game in every part of our cities, communities and country regions,' Goyder said.
'(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.'
Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman hailed Hammond as a proud South Australian.
'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,' he 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.'
Bob Hammond (pictured in action for North Adelaide in the 1973 SANFL grand final) is best known for the enormous contribution he made to the sport in South Australia
Hammond was survived by wife Jill, two children, three stepchildren and tour Lệ Giang seven grandchildren.
His son Craig thanked everyone who visited his ailing father in recent months as his health rapidly deteriorated.
'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,' he said.
'We thank everyone for their support and best wishes as we come to terms with his loss.'
Funeral details are yet to be announced.
Read more:
website Australian AFL premiership legend Bob Hammond dies aged 78
AFL Football Hall of Fame member and administrator Bob Hammond, 78, died surrounded by family in Adelaide on Saturday following a battle with Parkinson's disease.
Hammond is best known for the massive contribution he made to the sport in South Australia, which spanned over six decades.
Known as a ruthless defender, Hammond won his first SANFL premiership flag as an 18-year-old in his first season with North Adelaide in 1960 and went on to claim two more premierships with the Roosters in an career spanning 248 games.
Tributes are flowing for AFL Football Hall of Fame member and code administrator Bob Hammond (pictured) following his death on Saturday
Hammond played in two of South Australia's greatest sides — the 1963 state team that beat Victoria on the MCG and the 1972 North Adelaide SANFL premiership side he captained to the Champions of Australia title.
Hammond ended his playing career with Norwood, where he stayed on as coach to win two SANFL premierships in 1975 and 1978.
More coaching success followed when he led his beloved SA to a breakthrough State of Origin VFL win against the highly-tipped Victoria side in 1983.
He also coached the Sydney Swans in 1984.
Hammond returned to South Australia and was the inaugural Adelaide Crows chairman when the team entered the VFL in 1991.
He was at the helm when the Crows claimed their AFL premierships in 1997 and 1998.
Hammond played much of his career with North Adelaide, where he won three SANFL flags
He then served he acted as an AFL Commissioner for a decade from 2001-11 and was inducted into AFL Football Hall of Fame in 2015, becoming just the 16th administrator in the code's 160-year history to do so.
He said at the time that football had been his greatest tutor in life.
'Football fashioned my life because of the team spirit and effort required and the highs and the lows,' Hammond said at the time.
Hammond also had the Crows players' race named after him, which was unveiled at the Adelaide Oval in 2014.
'I was really humbled and quite emotional about it actually,' Hammond told the Adelaide Advertiser at the unveiling.
'I'm thrilled the race bears my name and I accept it on behalf of all the Crows supporters, members, players, coaches and administrators who have been part of the club for 24 years.
'I would like them all to feel they are a part of this race.'
RELATED ARTICLES
Previous
1
Next
Why the NRL's lockdown victory over the AFL is a false dawn:... AFL star reveals the 'disgusting' on-field sledge about his...
Share this article
Share
AFL chairman Richard Goyder paid tribute to Hammond's invaluable contribution to the code.
'Bob served Australian football as an esteemed coach and club administrator, before taking on the task of building the overall strength of our sport as a Commissioner, working for a decade to build our game in every part of our cities, communities and country regions,' Goyder said.
'(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.'
Adelaide Crows chairman Rob Chapman hailed Hammond as a proud South Australian.
'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,' he 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.'
Bob Hammond (pictured in action for North Adelaide in the 1973 SANFL grand final) is best known for the enormous contribution he made to the sport in South Australia
Hammond was survived by wife Jill, two children, three stepchildren and tour Lệ Giang seven grandchildren.
His son Craig thanked everyone who visited his ailing father in recent months as his health rapidly deteriorated.
'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,' he said.
'We thank everyone for their support and best wishes as we come to terms with his loss.'
Funeral details are yet to be announced.
Read more:
website Australian AFL premiership legend Bob Hammond dies aged 78
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