Humble Gale now a legendBy Cameron Whiteley
The Advocate
June 24, 2015COASTAL football legend Brendon Gale says he is humbled to be recognised alongside childhood heroes such as Darrel Baldock, Ian Stewart and Peter Hudson.
AFL Tasmania yesterday announced Gale as one of two of the state's star players of yesteryear to be elevated to legend status in the Tasmanian Football Hall of Fame this year.
Gale, 46, along with the late Peter Marquis, who played with Devonport in the 1950s, will join 44 others already elevated to the legend category.
Gale is a revered figure at the Richmond Football Club, having played 244 games and kicked 209 goals during his AFL playing career with the Tigers, which spanned from 1990-2001.
He is now the CEO of his beloved club, a position he has held since August 2009.
Gale, a former Penguin and Burnie boy, told The Advocate yesterday that the recognition meant a lot to him.
"I've lived in Melbourne longer than I've lived in Tasmania but I still regard myself as a Tasmanian and a Coaster," he said.
"My home is Tasmania, it's where I spent my formative years and my early years in footy, and for it to result in this acknowledgement is really humbling and I feel really proud."
A humble Gale said he was honoured to be recognised in the same company as an illustrious group of Tasmanian football stars in the legend category, such as Baldock and Stewart.
"Growing up as a young kid and following the Penguin Football Club, those guys were heroes back then and footy almost had this magical sort of aspect to it," he said.
"It's incredible to be alongside some of those names which were almost like gods when you were a young kid."
Gale will be present at Hobart's Wrest Point Ca-sino for a gala function on Friday week to officially receive the recognition.
http://www.theadvocate.com.au/story/3167040/humble-gale-now-a-legend/
