WERRIBEE’S win in the VFL capped off a sensational week for Scott West that included induction into the AFL Hall of Fame in Canberra.
West played 324 games for the Western Bulldogs and is one of the club’s most decorated players.
In a career spanning 16 years, he won seven Charles Sutton Medals, a club record. He was given All-Australian honours five times, including three in a row from 2004-06.
West finished second in the Brownlow Medal count twice, behind Shane Woewodin in 2000 and Adam Goodes in 2006, and was in the top five on three other occasions.
“It was a great night – one of those nights where you feel very honoured, humbled by the occasion and the award,” West said. “I took the family up and it was one of those great nights of footy, a lot of great people and familiar faces.
“[Prime minister] Julia Gillard was there and I had a fair bit of anxiety having to speak in front of so much footy royalty, but I was lucky enough to be announced first and once all that happened I was able to relax.”
West was inducted alongside Essendon’s Matthew Lloyd, former Melbourne captain Hassa Mann, WA great Brian Peake, Sturt ruckman Rick Davies, umpire Bryan Sheehan and Richmond’s Royce Hart, who was elevated to Legend status.