Inaugural Fremantle Docker and three-time WAFL premiership player Dale Kickett said his love for the game will "never be over" on induction to the WA Football Hall of Fame at Monday's Sandover Medal awards night.

What would eventually become a 266-game career at the elite level took an unconventional path and might have once looked unlikely.

Kickett spent periods between four AFL clubs and WAFL side Claremont before landing at Fremantle for their debut season.

He is also represented Western Australia three times in state of origin football.

After his first WAFL Premiership with the Tigers, Kickett arrived at Fitzroy with pick no.9 in the 1989 draft, playing 15 senior games for the club before returning to his home state after one season.

Two senior games for West Coast came the following year, playing the bulk of the season in the WAFL for a second premiership cup and his first Simpson Medal as best on ground in a grand final with Claremont.

In 1992 Kickett put together 21 games with St Kilda in the AFL, before returning for his third WAFL flag, a second Simpson Medal and a club best-and-fairest for Claremont the following year.

He arrived at Essendon, the reigning premiers, for 1994, playing seven senior games at his fourth club in the national competition.

From growing up in Tammin, 180 km east of Perth in the Wheatbelt region, Kickett needed to be convinced of moving east for football.

After some early failed attempts at AFL level, Kickett had "given up" at times and even "doubted my ability", he told The West Australian.

"But someone said to me that I keep being given opportunities by good clubs and good coaches so I must have something to offer. That's what kept me going."

After his first three stints at Claremont, and time at four AFL clubs, Kickett found a new home at the Dockers.

He remains a beloved figure at the club after seven seasons and 135 games between 1995-2002.

Kickett claimed the Doig Medal for a best-and-fairest season in the club's third year after second-placed finishes in 1995-96, and was honoured as a life member of the club in 2020.

Injuries brought an end to his AFL career in 2002, a season in which he played 10 times for Claremont and four times for the Dockers. He played one farewell match with the Tigers in 2003.

Speaking on Monday, Kickett thanked all of his AFL coaches, including Rod Austin (Fitzroy), Mick Malthouse (West Coast), Ken Sheldon (St Kilda) and Kevin Sheedy (Essendon) for opportunities he was given, alongside other figures in his career.

He also acknowledged "all my mob who went before me to pave the way, to inspire me to want to have a crank at this great game".

Kickett recounted his uncle, Larry Kickett's 1978 flag with the Royals, and "falling asleep under a table at East Perth, when dad and his brother and all these blokes that he played footy with were having a few beers".

What became a champion career at Claremont may have otherwise been put together on the other side of town, it was revealed.

"I used to barrack for East Perth. I tried out for them. I didn't make it. I went home and then came back to Perth for schooling, played in the Hills competition and ended up at Swan Districts," Kickett said.

"Played a couple of games there before my dad's brother, my Uncle Larry, rang me and said, 'What are you doing there'?

"He and Derek and another one of my uncles were over at Claremont, and they just about forced me to go over there.

"I was pretty happy at Swans. I'll be barracking for Swans (in the WAFL Preliminary Final) this weekend."

Kickett later thanked his family, with his wife Kathy given a special mention for being him through ups and downs "during and after my football career".

"(After retirement) it never ends. You're always there in some capacity as a supporter," he said.

"Her understanding that this is the game that I love, it's never going to be over. I'll always be involved in this game, whether playing, coaching or just supporting."

Kickett entered the WA Football Hall of Fame alongside fellow Fremantle figures Aaron Sandilands and Tony Buhagiar, and Stan Margo on Monday.

"It's a real honour to be in the company of this group," he said at the top of his speech.