Administering the great game of Australian Rules Football can often be a lonely, ardous and thankless task yet Cal Dean expertly and with aplomb administered football in Central Australia for a remarkable four decades.
 
Cal first started his journey with football in Alice Springs in 1963 and as he has been tireless in his endeavours his name is now synonymous with football in the Red Centre.
Cal started with Pioneer Football Club serving many years on the committee and, at various times, held roles as Secretary, Delegate & Team Manager. He is a Life Member of Pioneer Football Club.
His remarkable professionalism, passion and commitment to the game did not go unnoticed as he was awarded the AFL Central Australia Harrison Trophy for Services to Football an astounding 5 times in 1975, 1987, 1994, 1996 and 2004
 
In 1997 Cal received the National Australian Football Council Merit Award and in 2000 he was awarded the Australian Sports Medal for Services to Football.
 
In 2005 Cal was named as a member of 8HA’s Central Australia Outback Team of Champions, which acknowledged the contributions of players, umpires and administrators in Alice Springs since 1948
 
In 2005 Cal was inducted in to the CAFL Hall of Fame and he is also a CAFL Life Member
 
The development and progression of local juniors even today is one of Cal’s greatest pleasures and the players from Alice Springs who have made it at national or state level all hold great respect for Cal and his efforts. It is fitting that the best on ground medal in the CAFL Under 17 Grand Final is named in his honour.
 
Local’s often say that footy in Alice Springs would not be where it is today without the efforts of Cal Dean and although now retired, Cal Dean remains a major supporter of football in Alice Springs
 
We celebrate his career and welcome one of the Territory’s most decorated, most passionate and most dedicated administrators, Cal Dean, into the AFLNT Hall of Fame.