SANFL icon Ken Farmer has been recognised at the AFL's 30th Hall of Fame ceremonies as the 33rd legend of the game, as eight new faces were inducted into the illustrious group.
Garry Lyon, John Leedham, Peter Darley, Luke Hodge, George Owens and Nick Riewoldt were selected in the class, while Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce became the first AFLW players in the Hall.
AFLW players can be inducted one year after their retirement, while men need to wait five.
Phillips became the second woman, alongside Debbie Lee, as a member, and the first AFLW player, with Pearce following suit.
Under Hall of Fame rules, a maximum of 10 per cent of total inductees can reach Legend status. The 33-man group of Legends includes the likes of Ron Barassi, Leigh Matthews and Tony Lockett, with the most recent Legends being Jason Dunstall (2024), Russell Ebert (2022), Merv McIntosh (2021), Jack Oatey (2021) and John Kennedy Sr. (2020).
AFL chair Richard Goyder said it was an honour to "recognise and celebrate the tremendous achievements of our newest inductees" and acknowledge one of the game's late greats, Farmer, on the momentous milestone.
"It's a pleasure to come together for the 30th year of inductions for the Australian Football Hall of Fame. This evening is an opportunity to recognise and celebrate the tremendous achievements of our newest inductees, and to reflect on the past three decades of this event and the people it has honoured," Goyder said.
"Last year, Jason Dunstall was elevated to Legend, and, while we were not due to consider another Legend until 2026, we made the decision to additionally honour one of our deceased greats to mark the 30th year of this event.
"It's also a momentous occasion for the future of our game, as we celebrate the induction of the first two AFLW foundation players, Erin Phillips and Daisy Pearce. It's an honour to recognise Erin and Daisy's contribution to women's football, having paved the way for future generations and rightfully earned their place in the Hall of Fame.
"For all our Hall of Fame members, their contribution to football is outstanding, and each person, alongside their family and friends, should be immensely proud."
Legend Elevation
Ken Farmer (deceased) (SANFL)
224 games for North Adelaide, 1929-1941
6.33 goal average per game
17 games for SA, 71 goals
2x premierships 1930, 1931
1936 best and fairest
11x SANFL leading goalkicker 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940
13x North Adelaide leading goalkicker 1929, 1930, 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934, 1935, 1936, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1940, 1941
Captain 1934-35, 1937-38, 1941
North Adelaide Team of the Century
2x North Adelaide Premiership coach 1949, 1952
Inductees
Peter Darley (SANFL)
206 games for South Adelaide, 1962-74, 123 goals
13 games for SA
1964 premiership
7x best and fairest 1963, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1972, 1973
1969 Carnival All-Australian
1974 South Adelaide leading goal kicker
South Adelaide captain 1967-69 and 1971
Luke Hodge (AFL)
305 games for Hawthorn, 2002-17, 193 goals
41 games for the Brisbane Lions, 2018-19, 1 goal
Four games for Australia
4x premierships 2008, 2013 (captain), 2014 (captain), 2015 (captain)
2x best and fairest 2005, 2010
3x All Australia 2005, 2008, 2010
2x Norm Smith Medal 2008, 2014
Hawthorn captain 2011-16
John Leedham (deceased) (NTFA/TFL)
124 games for North Launceston, 1946-53
114 games for North Hobart, 1954-59
13 games for Tasmania.
2x All Australian 1947,1953
1953 Carnival All-Australian
5x club premierships 1946, 1948, 1949, 1950 and 1957
3x state premierships 1946, 1949, 1950
Tasmanian Team of the Century vice-captain
Garry Lyon (VFL/AFL)
226 games for Melbourne 1986-99, 426 goals
Nine games for Victoria
2x best and fairest 1990, 1994
5x All Australian 1989, 1990, 1993, 1994, 1995
2x Melbourne leading goalkicker 1994, 1995
Melbourne captain 1991-97
George Owens (deceased) (WAFL)
195 games for East Perth, 1917-32.
17 games for WA
7x premierships 1919, 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923, 1926, 1927
1925 Sandover Medal
135 games umpired, including 5x Grand Finals 1935, 1937, 1938, 1939, 1941
Daisy Pearce (AFLW/VFLW)
55 games for Melbourne 2017-22, 25 goals
2022 AFLW premiership
3x Melbourne best and fairest 2017, 2018, 2022
3x All Australian 2017 (captain), 2018, 2022
Melbourne captain 2017-18 and 2020-22
10x VFLW premierships with Darebin 2006, 2007, 2008 (c), 2009 (c), 2010 (c), 2013 (c), 2014 (c), 2015 (c), 2016 (c), 2017.
6x Helen Lambert Medal 2009, 2010, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015.
2x Lisa Hardeman Medal 2005, 2014.
5x Darebin Best and Fairest 2005, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012.
Erin Phillips (AFLW)
46 games for the Adelaide Crows 2017-22, 50 goals
20 games for Port Adelaide 2022-23, three goals
3x AFLW premierships 2017, 2019, 2022
2x AFLW best and fairest 2017, 2019
2x AFLW Grand Final best on ground medal 2017, 2019
2x Adelaide club best and fairest 2017, 2019
3x All Australian 2017, 2019, 2021
2x Adelaide leading goalkicker 2018, 2021
Adelaide captain 2017-20
Port Adelaide captain 2022-23
2x AFLW Players MVP 2017, 2019
2019 AFLW Coaches Champion Player
Nick Riewoldt (AFL)
336 games for St Kilda, 718 goals
6x St Kilda best and fairest 2002, 2004, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2014
3x Top three best and fairest 2008, 2013, 2016
5x All Australian 2004, 2006, 2008, 2009 (captain), 2014 (vice-captain)
4x St Kilda leading goalkicker 2008, 2009, 2013, 2014
St Kilda captain 2005, 2007-16
2002 Rising Star
