Ken Farmer scrapbook : 1937-1948

The State Library holds the scrapbooks kept by Ken Farmer from 1928 to 1955. They reflect not only his own career, but his great interest in the game of football generally. They include original letters, photographs and coaching notes as well as newspaper cuttings.

Ken Farmer (1910-1982) was arguably the greatest full forward ever to play football. Over thirteen South Australian National Football League (SANFL) seasons, from 1929 to 1941, he scored 1,419 goals, at an average of over six a game. He kicked more than a hundred goals in eleven straight seasons and also averaged five goals a game in interstate matches. His highest score in a single game was 23 goals against West Torrens in 1940. He played two premierships with North Adelaide, in 1930 and 1931.

After retiring from playing in 1941, he enlisted in the RAAF and served until 1946.

Farmer returned to football in 1948 when he coached the North Adelaide reserves. In 1949 he was made coach of the league team. In a Grand Final played in hot, humid conditions, he guided North to victory over West Torrens, with a final score of 13 goals, 17 behinds (95 points) to 9 goals, 18 behinds (72 points). In 1952 North defeated Norwood in the Grand Final by the then record margin of 108 points.

Farmer later became a television commentator on the World of Sport program.

He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1998 and made a Legend in 2025.

Since 1981 the SANFL's leading goal kicker each season has been awarded the Ken Farmer Medal.

This item is reproduced courtesy of the North Adelaide Football Club. It may be printed or saved for research or study. Use for any other purpose requires written permission from North Adelaide Football Club. To request approval, complete the Quote for Copy/Permission form.