Following the appointment of Football Victoria (FV)’s History and Heritage Coordinator, Tony Persoglia, in September, a number of initiatives have commenced to ensure that some of our most admired sons and daughters are celebrated for their iconic achievements in the game.
Front and centre is the reimagining of the FV Hall of Fame, which was placed on hold in 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The first step in relaunching has been to deliver a new digital Hall of Fame portal, which showcases the achievements of every individual bestowed with the honour. Now live, the portal features additional detail for each recipient, with key milestones, videos, links, photographs and new achievements (for modern day players) accompanying the profiles previously penned by revered historian Roy Hay.
Links to OzFootball provide statistical context to those players who played in an era where information is not always readily available online.
Tony Persoglia is thrilled by FV’s commitment to ensuring the achievements of these remarkable individuals are celebrated.
“It has been a decade since the FV Hall of Fame was established in 2010, and we have honoured 23 individuals in that time. It is tremendously important that the Hall of Fame not only returns in 2021 but is the flagship in our plans to build football’s history and heritage,” said Persoglia.
“As custodians of the game, the more we collaborate and share what we have, the more we will uncover. Whether it be Harry Dockerty, Arthur E Gibbs or Frank McIver from the pre-war period, or Shona Bass, Theresa Deas and Janette Melvin as pioneers of the women’s game, there are links which provide a mere snapshot of their careers. Hopefully we can reveal much more in time.”
With this goal in mind, Persoglia and Head of Diversity & Inclusion, Nick Hatzoglou, chaired the first FV Historical Committee meeting of 2020 last week, with a focus on uncovering additional individuals to celebrate, in line with a revised nomination criteria. Those criteria will be reviewed and released in the New Year.
"FV has made a quantum leap with the appointment of Tony Persoglia as the History and Heritage Coordinator and we are bearing the fruits of his expertise and labour. I encourage you to visit our revitalised digital Hall of Fame portal," said Hatzoglou.
Visit the new Hall of Fame portal.
If you have any more information on the individuals honoured in the Hall of Fame or a question regarding the history and heritage of football in Victoria, please contact Tony Persoglia at history@footballvictoria.com.au