Vale Bob Hammond AM

SANFL is deeply saddened by the passing yesterday of Australian Football Hall of Fame inductee and former AFL Commissioner Bob Hammond AM.

SANFL CEO Jake Parkinson today paid tribute to Hammond, who was considered one of the greats of South Australian football both on and off the field for six decades.

“Bob was admired by many as a player and coach, but also for his tremendous service to football in South Australia with his passion for growing the national game in our State,” Mr Parkinson said.

”He championed the cause for South Australian football on a national stage as an AFL Commissioner.

“On behalf of SANFL, we extend our deepest sympathies to the Hammond family at this sad time.”

Debuting as an 18-year-old defender in 1960, Hammond played in a premiership with North Adelaide that season, the first of three triumphs as a player for the Roosters across a 234-game SANFL career.

He then coached Norwood to premierships in 1975 and 1978, the first ending a 25-year drought for the club and the second flag triumph coming in the Redlegs’ centenary year.

But that was to only be the beginning of his significant contribution to the game in an off-field capacity.

He later coached both SA and the Sydney Swans in the VFL, before embarking on a distinguished administrative career which started as inaugural chairman of the Adelaide Football Club from 1991 to 2000, overseeing the clubs’ two AFL premierships in 1997 and 1998.

Hammond’s passion for South Australian football continued as he acted as an AFL Commissioner for a decade from 2001-11, ensuring the State’s best interests were served on the national stage.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2015, after previously being inducted into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame and being awarded Life Membership of both SANFL and the AFL.

Hammond, who was aged 78, died peacefully after a courageous battle with Parkinson’s disease.

SANFL and the South Australian Football Commission express their deepest sympathies to Bob’s wife, Jill, and the Hammond family while honouring his outstanding contribution to the game in South Australia as a player, coach and administrator.