AFL world mourns passing of Hall of Fame great and Hawthorn legend Graham Arthur

The AFL world is mourning the passing of Graham Arthur, an Australian Football Hall of Fame member and Hawthorn legend. He was 84.

Arthur was the Hawks’ first premiership captain, as a member of Kennedy’s Commandos under the late John Kennedy Sr, in 1961.

He played 232 games in the brown and gold, along with 12 for Victoria, captaining the side for nine seasons and winning three best-and-fairests (1955, 1958, 1962).

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Arthur was named the captain of Hawthorn’s Team of the Century, and was an inaugural member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

He also coached the Hawks for 36 games, while still playing for the side, and held key roles at the club off the field following his retirement.

“We are deeply saddened to have lost a man of such immense character as Graham,” Hawthorn president Jeff Kennett said.

“Graham was John Kennedy Snr’s lead commando and the type of clubman who would inspire his teammates through example and trust.

“All those who have been lucky enough to don the brown and gold in more recent years have benefited from the culture of success that Graham helped sew into Hawthorn’s fabric.

“Graham was a Hawthorn person through and through and he will always live on within our club.

“I extend the club’s and my condolences to Graham’s family at this difficult time.”