South Australia legend Ken Farmer has been announced as the 33rd legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
Once dubbed by The Adelaide Mail as ‘the Don Bradman of Football’, Farmer enjoyed a glittering career in the SANFL, booting an outstanding 1417 goals across 224 appearances.
Meanwhile, Channel Seven star Nick Riewoldt was also formally inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, alongside his broadcasting co-host Luke Hodge and former Sandover Medallist, George Owens.
Crows great Erin Phillips also delivered an emotional speech as she too was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Many legends from the footy world also took to the Blue Carpet at the Crown Palladium in Melbourne, including Kevin Sheedy, Jason Dunstall, Chriss Judd and Jonathan Brown.
Farmer is one of the most prolific forwards to have ever graced the sport, winning 11 titles as the leading goalkicker in the SANFL during his glittering career.
Farmer debuted in the North Adelaide league side back in 1929 and booted 62 goals in 14 games at the mere age of 18. He would go on to captain North Adelaide for five seasons before his footy career was cut short by World War II, where he would serve in the RAAF as a sergeant.
Such was the bravado around the goalkicker, the Adelaide Mail wrote in 1937 that: ‘South Australia can claim the two most prolific scorers in their respective sporting spheres that Australia has seen. Don Bradman is one; the other is Ken Farmer … who has surely qualified for the title “Bradman of football”.’
South Australia legend Ken Farmer has been announced as the 33rd legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame
Matthew Farmer, Ken’s grandson, was present to receive a certificate on behalf of his grandfather
Farmer, who passed away in 1982, aged 71, was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1998.
His grandson, Matthew, was in attendance on Tuesday night to collect a plaque on his behalf.
Elsewhere, one former star was forced to skip his Tuesday night media duties to attend the ceremony.
Nick Riewoldt did not appear on this evening’s showing of The Agenda Setters, but took to the stage at the Crown Palladium to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
The five-time All-Australian, who returned a whopping 718 goals across 336 appearances for the Saints had been announced as an inductee back in 2023.
And on acceptance of his certificate, the former St Kilda player, who has been dubbed one of the club’s greatest-ever players, revealed how he came very close to playing for the Brisbane Lions, 76km to be exact.
The footy star revealed that back in his junior days of footy, the Tassie-born forward moved to Queensland to play for the Lions in the QAFL.
However, due to a catchment area ruling, Riewoldt might not have been drafted to the Saints and likely would have stayed in Queensland, playing for the Lions.
Erin Phillips was also inducted to the Australian football Hall of Fame, following suit of her dad, Greg, who played for Port Adelaide
Phillips explained how she could not believe how her life has come ‘full circle’ upon recieving the award
Channel 7 star Luke Hodge (right) also received his commemorative Hall of Fame certificate
Riewoldt also recounted a tale of how Leigh Matthews (centre) had given him some surprise words of encouragement during a junior footy match
Jonathan Brown (left) and Chris Judd also arrived at the venue. Brown was honoured in 2020, while Judd was also honoured a year later
Riewoldt explained that he ‘did the measurement’ and was ‘around 76km away’ from playing for the Lions.
‘The rule changed a year later and went to 100km.
‘It might have been a good thing. I might have had a few more medals in my pocket but I might have had to play on the wing with Browny (Jonathan Brown), Lynchy (Alastair Lynch) and (Daniel) Bradshaw in the forward line.’
He also revealed the funny message that footy legend Leigh Mattews shouted at him during a youth game with the Lions.
After being told to put his arm across an opponent forward, Riewoldt copped a whack on the nose, leaving blood pouring down his face.
He strutted over the bench but was given a word of encouragement by a man on the side of the pitch.
‘Good courage, young fella,’ the man shouted.
Looking up, Riewoldt said he saw Matthews looking back at him.
Adelaide Crows great Erin Phillips was also inducted into the Hall of Fame.
Nick Riewoldt was also officially inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame on Tuesday night
Phillips (left) was joined at the ceremony by her partner Tracy Gahan (right)
Jason Dunstall (right) was seen in deep conversation with several other guests including Hawks great John Platten (second from right)
Former West Coast and Carlton star Judd and his father both took to the red carpet, but his wife Bec, was not in attendance
She joins her father, Greg, who was also inducted into the Hall of Fame. Phillips, a two-time WNBA champion and three-time premiership player, took to the carpet with her partner Tracy Gahan and also stopped for a snap with her dad.
Dubbed a trailblazer of the AFLW, Phillips grew up playing footy alongside boys.
But she told The Herald Sun that she could not believe her life had come ‘full circle’.
She added that it was her dad who got her and her sisters into football.
‘Dad brought me and my two sisters and raised us at the Port Adelaide Football Club, around footballers, and for me personally, who was just a kid obsessed with footy,’ she added.
‘He loved playing. He never once hesitated to teach me the skill, knowing that this will never be something you’ll need as a career. But he never, ever said no to having a kick.’
During her induction speech, Phillips delivered a tear-jerking address to her father Greg.
‘I can’t imagine how hard it would have been to tell your 13-year-old daughter she can’t play the game she loves anymore,’ Erin said.
AFL CEO Andrew Dillon and his wife, Amanda, were also in attendance at the black-tie event
AFL Hall of Famer Dermot Brereton, who won five premierships with Hawthorn, also stopped for snaps with his partner Julie
Footy legend Kevin Sheedy, who won three premierships as a player and four as a coach, arrived with his wife Geraldine
Three-time premiership star Simon Black arried alongside his wife Catherine
‘And 27 years later, she is standing next to you in the hall of fame.
‘Thank you for teaching me a game that I loved and even though you knew it was never going to take me anywhere at the time, you still taught me anyway.’
Speaking again to The Herald Sun on her career, she said as a kid: ‘I would have given anything to play one game and then to kind of have my journey play out the way it did.
‘I’ll never, ever take it for granted. I don’t know who is up above, watching over me and taking care of me, but they’ve done an amazing job.’
More to follow…
