A MONACO Grand Prix winner, a goalscoring Young Australian of the Year and two Commonwealth Games flag-bearers are among a contingent that will battle it out for one of Australian sport’s top honours.

Thursday night marks the 34th Sport Australia Hall of Fame induction and presentation of The Don Award, whose winner has been deemed to have most inspired the nation over the last 12 months.

Motorsport stars Daniel Ricciardo and Will Power, Matildas striker Sam Kerr, Commonwealth Games medallists Kurt Fearnley, Madison de Rozario, Mark Knowles and Lauren Parker and cricketer Ellyse Perry have all been nominated for the prestigious award that Sport Australia chairman Robert de Castella said marks more than simply performance.

“It is easy to be bedazzled by phenomenal athleticism and amazing sporting excellence, and there is nothing wrong with this,” he said.

“Indeed it is one of the greatest things about sport. But, maybe something that is less tangible than the scoreboard, less obvious than the highest mark, less clear than the fastest, strongest, or highest, that might be even more important to recognise and foster.

“The Don Award seeks to recognise that essence of an individual that makes us as a nation stop, reflect on ourselves, and, if needed, realign our values and lives, just as SAHOF did when the award was created.”

Thursday night marks the biggest annual gathering of Australian sporting greats, with more than 80 members of the Sport Australia Hall of Fame and seven Legends expected to attend the gala at Crown Palladium where late cricket great Richie Benaud will be elevated to Legend status.