Peter Darley stole the show at the 2025 Australian Football Hall of Fame ceremony held earlier this week.
The South Australian great had the crowd in stitches, regaling them with some hilarious anecdotes during his acceptance speech.
Darley also spoke about why he had initially signed with Richmond in 1964, even though he had no intention of making the move to Victoria.
“I had approaches from quite a few clubs. But at the end of the day, I settled with Richmond,” Darley said.
“I can vividly remember meeting with Jack Dyer, Ian Wilson and Graeme Richmond from the Richmond Football Club.
“We met in the Travel Lodge, on South Terrace, and they signed me up – I think for no money – but it was a relief to know then that I wasn’t going to be pursued by other Victorian clubs.
“It just took that challenge away from me and I was extremely happy with Richmond.
“They were fantastic the way they entertained me and looked after me and never put any pressure on me to come and play in Victoria.”
Club historian Rhett Bartlett delved into his archives to provide further information on Darley’s link with Richmond.
Here are some reports from The Age newspaper throughout the years about Darley and the Tigers.
1964
Richmond is hopeful of having star South Adelaide ruckman Peter Darley at its annual meeting tomorrow night.
Darley was signed by the Tigers in June.
He represented S.A. against Victoria this year and although he does not usually play at centre half-forward, he took 13 marks while opposed to Gordon Collis.
Richmond has been interested in Darley since he was a schoolboy champion with Prince Alfred College. He has played two seasons with South Adelaide, during which time it rose from last to 1964 premiers.
Officials regard Darley as a better prospect than 1953 Magarey Medallist Jim Deane, who transferred to Richmond from South Adelaide the following year.
That 1964 AGM was also the historic night Richmond members voted to transfer the Club’s home games from Punt Road to the MCG.
1967 article by Greg Hobbs
This is South Adelaide captain and coach – the man Richmond would dearly love to have in its camp.
The Tigers have been chasing Darley, 22, for three years and, according to Richmond secretary Graeme Richmond, “still haven’t given up the fight”.
Last night the giant 6ft. 3in., 15st. 10lb. SA forward turned out with Richmond for a training run at Yarra Park.
He is in Melbourne on business with his firm, and he quickly set onlookers talking with his outstanding exhibition of marking and kicking.
Darley is tied to South Adelaide for another two years, but Richmond believes it then has a chance of moving in on him.
He re-signed with the Tigers earlier this year.
Darley hit the headlines in 1964 when he played with SA against Victoria. His opponent was Gordon Collis, the 1964 Brownlow Medallist, and he won his encounter easily.
The following year Darley did not play. Instead, he had two cartilage operations, and his career looked finished.
But last year he bounced back as good as ever, and now Richmond has its eyes on him for the future.
1968 article by Greg Hobbs
Not for many years have Victorian League clubs been confronted with a professional such as South Australia’s acting-captain Peter Darley.
Still sweating from his team’s defeat against Victoria at the MCG on Saturday, Darley told me: “I won’t be staying on as captain and coach of South Adelaide next season – and I am very keen to play League football in Melbourne".
Darley is a professional all right. You have only to speak to him for a few minutes to realise his outlook on the game.
The VFL club with the highest bid will get Darley. A handful of teams are in the running, but Richmond has the inside.
As one Richmond official said yesterday: “If we want Darley we will make it hard for any other League club. And after watching him on Saturday I think we want him”.
It all points to the handsome SA ruckman playing with the Tigers, particularly now that Richmond has intensified its efforts to lure him east.
The Tigers have had 24-year-old Darley’s signature for four years.
The signature with Richmond expires in September, but after Saturday’s match Richmond officials had further talks with him.
These will be continued in a fortnight, when Darley will be back in Melbourne on business.
The Tigers are looking for a big, strong follower to help Mike Patterson with the ruck-work. They realise that Darley is just the man to fit the bill.