There were tears of relief and joy in the District Court Friday when Judge Mark Herron awarded $818,700 in damages to a woman who took legal action against Barry Cable for years of abuse which began when she was 12.

The woman had alleged that Mr Cable, now 79, began abusing her in 1968 and the abuse, then harassment, continued into her 30s.

She reported the matter to police in the 1990s but the prospects of securing a criminal conviction so many years after the events were considered low and no charges were pressed.

The woman took the stand in February this year in her civil case against Mr Cable and read the 68-page police statement lodged in 1998.

The statement alleged that when she was twelve years old Mr Cable exposed himself to her and that he had sexually related conversations with the minor.

She alleged Mr Cable later forced her to touch him, and would refer to her as his 'Big Girl' and would often call her that when he wanted to do something sexual.

She also alleged she was told that if she did not comply Mr Cable would "prey upon" her little sister.

The woman said trauma from the abuse had caused her to suffer depression, become suicidal, self harm, and develop an eating disorder.

Four other women came forward with similar allegations during the trial.

Mr Cable had tried unsuccessfully several times to have the case thrown out of court, continues to deny the allegations and did not appear in court during the proceedings.

In February News Corp senior football writer Mark Robinson to call for the AFL to immediately release a statement announcing Mr Cable has been banned from attending all AFL matches, functions and engagements, and that his "legend" status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame has been suspended until further notice.

"That's two allegations – repeat they are allegations – but how many allegations does the AFL need before it takes action… A third allegation. Or fourth? One should be enough," he wrote.

Mr Cable was also named as a coach and player in the Indigenous team of the Century in 2005 and is a member of the WAFL Hall of Fame.