Fallen idol Gary Ablett and coaching king Jock McHale headed the nine men honoured at the AFL's annual Hall of Fame dinner.

While Ablett's induction into the hall follows years of controversy about his eligibility, there is no argument about the elevation of McHale to legend status.

McHale, who died in 1953, is the league's longest-serving coach with 714 games over 38 years at Collingwood and he was involved in nine premierships for the Magpies as a player and coach, also a VFL/AFL record.

He became the 19th member of the hall to be officially named a legend.

Collingwood's former home ground is named after McHale and he also played 261 games for the Magpies.

The AFL premiership coach receives the Jock McHale medal.

Ablett was among eight inductees, along with former players Kelvin and Peter Moore, Ian Nankervis, Paul Roos, Stephen Silvagni, Stuart Spencer and South Australian administrator Max Basheer.

Ablett was undoubtedly one of the greatest players in the game's history, kicking 1030 goals in 248 games for Hawthorn and Geelong between 1982-96.

But the big-marking forward was overlooked for induction for the last four years amid controversy over the death of a young woman from a drug overdose while in his company in February, 2000.

Twenty-year-old Alisha Horan died while on a drinking and drugs binge with Ablett in a luxury Melbourne hotel from a fatal cocktail of heroin, ecstasy and speed.

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