AFL

WA legend Barry Cable hit with sexual abuse allegations

By AAP Newswire

Feb 7, 2023

Barry Cable's legacy as one of the godfathers of Australian Rules Football is in danger of being tarnished forever after sexual abuse allegations were levelled against him.

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The football world was in a state of shock on Tuesday when it was revealed Cable is facing allegations he repeatedly sexually abused a Perth teenager during his glittering playing career.

The 79-year-old is being sued for damages in the District Court of Western Australia and is set to face a civil trial beginning this week.

He denies all allegations and is not facing criminal charges. In a further bombshell on Tuesday, it was revealed Cable is now bankrupt.

Cable was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 and was elevated to "Legend" status in 2012.

He's also an official Legend in the WA Football Hall of Fame and a Sport Australia Hall of Fame member.

But those honours could be in doubt following the shocking allegations levelled against him.

Cable's star exploits for North Melbourne - which included two premierships - during his 115-game VFL career at the club meant he was a hero in Victoria.

But in his home state of WA, Cable was more like a god.

At WAFL club Perth, he won three flags and seven best-and-fairest awards across his 225 games there.

He won the 1978 flag with East Perth and represented WA 20 times.

The drug-fuelled fall from grace of West Coast hero Ben Cousins was tragic, but if the allegations against Cable are proven it would go down as the biggest scandal to rock WA football.

Cable's name sits right up there alongside fellow WA legend Graham "Polly" Farmer and fellow WA sporting royalty such as Dennis Lillee, Herb Elliott and Ric Charlesworth.

But all of Cable's on-field achievements won't count for anything if he fails to save his reputation.

The woman alleges Cable sexually abused her between 1968, when she was aged 12, and 1973.

She claims she suffered psychiatric harm as a result of sexual behaviour and harassment by Cable, which she alleges continued until she was in her mid-30s.

The disturbing allegations have left those who grew up watching Cable stunned.

The only award Cable missed out on during his decorated career was a Brownlow medal.

But his five-year career at North Melbourne over two different stints was littered with success, most notably the 1975 and 1977 flags, and the 1970 best-and-fairest award in his first year.

His success defied the doubters who thought he may have been too slow to thrive in the VFL.

Cable's smooth skills and ability to read the ball more than most made up for his lack of electric pace, with his performances earning him a spot in North Melbourne's team of the century as a rover.

He was also named in Perth's team of the century and the Indigenous team of the century.

Cable had a function room named after him at the now-demolished Subiaco Oval, and his on-field feats remain part of WA sporting folklore.

But the latest chapter in his life could end up being what defines him the most.

The trial before Judge Herron is due to begin on Wednesday.

BARRY CABLE

* Played 225 games for Perth between 1962-69 and 1971-73, kicking 325 goals

* Played 115 games for North Melbourne in 1970 and between 1974-77, kicking 133 goals

* Played 42 games for East Perth between 1978-79, kicking 50 goals

* State Representative on 20 occasions

* Perth premierships: 1966, 1967, 1968

* North Melbourne premierships: 1975, 1977

* East Perth premiership: 1978