Inaugural West Coast Eagles player and current No.1 ticketholder Robert Wiley was tonight inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Wiley, a Richmond premiership player who had spent three seasons back at his original WAFL club Perth when the Eagles were born, completed his remarkable playing career with one final season at the highest level with the fledgling AFL club.
The connection between Wiley and West Coast has been unbreakable since.
A highly skilled rover (midfielder) and forward, Wiley had the amazing distinction of winning eight Butcher Medals with Perth in his eight seasons at the Demons – either side of a five-year career with Richmond.
He played in the Tigers’ 1980 premiership where he counted Michael Malthouse among his teammates and closest friends. They would be reunited when Malthouse was appointed coach of the Eagles in 1990 and Wiley was a valued confidante as a runner and assistant coach.
Wiley would become a central figure in the 1992 and 1994 premiership teams and remained a member of the coaching panel and match committee to also help guide the club to its third premiership in 2006.
He developed strong relationships with many at the club but most particularly with Trevor Nisbett, Football Manager in 1992 and 1994 and CEO from 1999, as well as Ian Miller and Tim Gepp who both remain involved and have had their fingerprints on every successful Eagles campaign.
Nisbett said he was thrilled that Wiley had been honoured with induction into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
“There isn’t much that Rob has not achieved in his career,” Nisbett said.
“As a player he was remarkable, playing in premierships at Perth and Richmond, as an assistant coach and match committee member at the Eagles where he has offered strong and intuitive insights into the game.
“So many of our players have benefitted from the time they spent with Rob, working to improve on their skills, both with and without the ball in their hands.
"This an honour he richly deserves and we are delighted for him.”
Robert Wiley's achievements
Perth
179 games, 415 goals
Premierships 1976-77
Butcher Medal 1974-78, 1984-86
Leading goalkicker 1976, 1977
Captain 1985-86
Senior coach 1988-89
Richmond
95 games, 127 goals
Premiership 1980
West Coast Eagles
18 games, 24 goals
Match Committee/Assistant coach 1990-2006
Life member 2003
No.1 ticketholder 2021
State honours
WA – 14 games
Victoria – 2
All-Australian 1986
State of origin coach 1998
WA Football Hall of Fame 2004
Additional
Carlton development coach 2012-15
East Fremantle senior coach 2016-2018
