West Australian Football Hall of Fame welcomes new inductees

East Fremantle champion Ray Sorrell and West Coast great Peter Matera have been elevated to Legend status at the West Australian Football Hall of Fame in the 18th edition of the awards at The Westin Perth’s Grand Ballroom on Monday night.

One of the biggest nights on the WA football calendar saw seven other recipients inducted into the West Australian Football Hall of Fame, with hundreds of guests celebrating the new crop of worthy additions in the special stand-alone event.

Across his distinguished career, Sorrell consistently demonstrated elite skill, vision, and leadership on the field, representing East Fremantle in 156 matches in the 1950’s and 60’s, while also spending two seasons as captain-coach with South Fremantle in 1964 and 1965. 

His outstanding achievements not only included winning two Sandover Medals (1961, 1963), two Simpson Medals (1962), but also representing Western Australia 18 times in interstate football. 

Sorrell’s remarkable impact extended beyond his individual accolades, shaping team success and inspiring generations of players. 

Matera’s playing style was characterised by his exceptional speed, agility, and skill, particularly on the wing, where he became a pivotal figure in the premiership success of the Eagles in 1992 and 1994. 

His five goal haul in the 1992 decider earned him the Norm Smith Medal on a historic day for WA football. 

His ability to influence games and inspire both teammates and fans exemplifies the Hall of Fame’s criteria for superior achievement and outstanding impact. 

Beyond his playing career, Matera has made significant contributions to the game through coaching roles at East Perth and Swan Districts, further demonstrating his enduring influence on Western Australian football. 

Among those to join the West Australian Football Hall of Fame include the late Alan East, a highly respected football historian, author, and journalist. 

Two-time Geelong premiership player Harry Taylor, who played 280 AFL games with the Cats and was twice named All-Australian. 

Former champion West Coast Eagles ruckman Nic Naitanui, who claimed two John Worsfold Medals, as well as three All Australian jackets. 

Fremantle Dockers great David Mundy, who played a club record 376 matches for the club in addition to winning one Doig Medal and being named an All Australian. 

Ex Fremantle Docker and Collingwood defender James Clement was honoured after playing a combined 230 games between his two clubs, including winning two Copeland Trophies and twice being selected as an All Australian. 

Former East Perth and North Melbourne midfielder Phil Kelly played 109 matches with the Royals before moving to the Kangaroos where he spent five seasons at Arden Street. 

Kelly, a premiership player with the Royals, won the Sandover Medal in 1978 and 1979. 

The seventh inductee is the all-time leading goalkicker at the West Coast Eagles, Josh Kennedy. 

After starting his career at Carlton, Kennedy was an eight-time leading goalkicker at the Eagles, winning two Coleman Medals, named All Australian three times and was a member of the 2018 premiership side. 

Kennedy kicked 712 goals in his 271-game career at the Eagles. 

WA Football congratulates all nine recipients and their families.

West Australian Football Hall of Fame – 2026 Inductees

ALAN EAST

Media Representative

Football journalist, author and publisher 1973-2018

Affiliated with The West Australian (1973-79), The Sunday Times (1979-81), The Western Mail (1981-87); Publisher of Westside Football (1979-1996); Editor of The Football Budget (1974-1997); Author of The Sandover Medal Men (2005) and editor and contributor to numerous other WAFL books and publications.

Honours: Outstanding Achievement and Contribution to Football through the Media award (1998); Instigator, founding President and Life member WA Football Media Guild;

Life Member East Perth Football Club.

DAVID MUNDY

Player: 2004-2022 (Subiaco 2004-05, Fremantle 2005-2022)

Games: 396 (Subiaco 20, Fremantle 376)

Goals: 161 (Subiaco 0, Fremantle 161)

Honours: All-Australian 2015; Fremantle Club Champion (Doig Medal) 2010; Glendinning-Allan Medal 2013; Geoff Christian Medal 2009; AFL Rising Star nominee 2005; Beacon Award 2005; Subiaco premiership player 2004; Fremantle Life Member 2012; Fremantle 25 since ’95 team member; Fremantle games-record holder.

HARRY TAYLOR

Player: 2005-2021 (East Fremantle 2005-07, 2021, Geelong 2008-2020)

Games: 329 (East Fremantle 49, Geelong 280)

Goals: 109 (East Fremantle 34, Geelong 75)

Honours: All-Australian x 2 (2010, 2013); Geelong Best First Year Player (2008); Geelong Premiership player x 2 (2009, 2011); International Rules Selection 2014, 2015; Jim Stynes Medallist 2015.

JAMES CLEMENT

Player: 1994-2007 (South Fremantle 1994-96,98, 2000, Fremantle 1996-2000, Williamstown VFL 2001, 2007, Collingwood 2001-2007 WA 1997-98, 2000)

Games: 278 (South Fremantle 43, Fremantle 84, Williamstown VFL 2, Collingwood 146 WA 3)

Goals: 78 (South Fremantle 23, Fremantle 38, Williamstown VFL 0, Collingwood 13 WA 4)

Honours: All-Australian x 2 (2004,2005); Collingwood Best & Fairest (Copeland Trophy) x2 (2004,2005); Collingwood Second Best & Fairest (R.T. Rush Trophy) (2006); Collingwood Third Best & Fairest (J.J. Joyce Trophy) (2002); Collingwood Best Finals Player (Bob Rose Award) x 2 (2002, 2006); Collingwood Hall of Fame 2010; International Rules representative 2002; Jason McCartney Medal 2007.

JOSH KENNEDY

Player: 2005-2022 (East Fremantle 2005, 2008-09, 2012, Northern Bullants 2006-07, Carlton 2006-2007, West Coast Eagles 2008-2022)

Games: 321 (East Fremantle 15, Northern Bullants 13, Carlton 22, West Coast Eagles 271)

Goals: 774 (East Fremantle 27, Northern Bullants 24, Carlton 11, West Coast Eagles 712)

Honours: All Australian x 3 (2015, 16, 17); John Coleman Medal x 2 (2015,2016); Glendinning-Allan Medal x 3 (2016,17, 20); West Coast Eagles Leading Goalkicker x 8 (2011, 2013-17, 2020, 2022); West Coast Eagles club record goalkicker; West Coast Eagles Premiership player 2018.

NIC NAITANUI

Player: 2008-2022 (Swan Districts 2008-09, West Coast WAFL 2019, 2022 West Coast Eagles AFL 2009-16, 2018-23)

Games: 238 (Swan Districts 23, West Coast WAFL 2, West Coast Eagles AFL 213)

Goals: 130 (Swan Districts 16, West Coast WAFL 2, West Coast Eagles AFL 112)

Honours: All-Australian x 3 (2012, 2020, 2021); West Coast Eagles Club Champion (Worsfold Medal) x 2 (2020, 2021); AFL Mark of the Year 2015; AFL Rising Star nominee 2010; All-Australian U18 x 2 (2007, 2008)

PHIL KELLY

Player: 1975-1985 (East Perth 1975-80, North Melbourne 1981-85, WA 1977-79)

Games: 176 (East Perth 109, North Melbourne 61, WA 6)

Goals: 121 (East Perth 73, North Melbourne 42, WA 6)

Honours: Sandover Medallist x 2 (1978, 1979); East Perth Fairest and Best (FD Book Medal) 1979; East Perth premiership player 1978; East Perth Team of the Century 1945-2005

Legend Elevations

RAY SORRELL 

Games: 178 WAFL games (Player); 42 WAFL games (Coach) 

Goals: 64 total career goals 

Key Honours: 2 x Sandover Medal Winner (1961, 1963); 2 x Simpson Medallist (1962 x 2 ); 2 x All Australian (WAFL) (1958, 1961); East Fremantle Team of the Century (2007); Fremantle Team of Legends; WA Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2004); AFL Hall of Fame Inductee (2016). 

PETER MATERA 

Games: 253 senior AFL games; 60 WAFL games 

Goals: 305 total career goals 

Key Honours: 2 x AFL Premiership player (1992, 1994); Norm Smith Medallist (1992); 5 x All Australian (1991, 1993, 1994, 1996, 1997); 4 x State of Origin Representative (1991, 1992, 1993, 1997); John Worsfold Medallist (1997); Indigenous Team of the Century (2005); VFL/AFL Italian Team of the Century (2007); WA Italian Team of the Century (2024); WA Football Hall of Fame Inductee (2006); AFL Hall of Fame Inductee (2006).