AT TONIGHT'S 2025 induction ceremony for the Australian Football Hall of Fame in Melbourne, the late Ken Farmer, a North Adelaide great in the SANFL, was elevated to be the 33rd Legend in the history of the game.

A further eight new members were welcomed into the Hall of Fame with their careers spanning both the current national competition at AFL level, the histories of the state leagues and the AFLW, in an historic first.

The eight new inductees are Peter Darley, Luke Hodge, John Leedham (deceased), Garry Lyon, George Owens (deceased), Daisy Pearce, Erin Phillips and Nick Riewoldt.

Mr Goyder thanked his fellow selectors Graham Cornes, Ross Glendinning, Debbie Lee, Karen Lyon, Andrew McLeod, Simon Madden, Paul Marsh, Alister Nicholson, Michael O'Loughlin and Patrick Keane (Secretary) and said he was delighted to welcome the 2025 inductees into the Hall of Fame.

"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," said Mr Goyder.

"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."

Mr Goyder thanked retiring selection panel member Paul Marsh, as he leaves his posting with the AFLPA and welcomed Simon Madden as the newest member of the selection panel, after the retirement of David Parkin last year.

Ken Farmer was a legend of the North Adelaide Football Club, retiring in 1941. Famer was an 11-time SANFL leading goalkicker, with an average of more than six goals per game, kicking a century of goals in 11 consecutive season. He won four premierships with North Adelaide, twice as a player and twice as a coach, and was named in the North Adelaide Team of the Century.

Pearce and Phillips make history as the first AFLW players to be inducted in the Hall of Fame, both three-time All Australians and each as inaugural captains of their respective clubs. Phillips won three AFLW premierships while Pearce captained Melbourne to its flag and had dominant success at VFLW level.

Darley was a seven-time best and fairest, Hodge two-time Norm Smith Medallist, Lyon a five-time All Australian, Riewoldt an All Australian captain who kicked more than 700 goals, while two deceased greats were also inducted, Tasmanian Team of the Century vice-captain John Leedham and 1925 Sandover Medal winner George Owens, who won seven premierships with East Perth.

The records of each inductee are as follows:

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