Hundreds have gathered to celebrate the life of South Australian football legend Neil Kerley AM at a state funeral at Adelaide Oval.
Known to many as "Knuckles," he dedicated more than five decades of his life to football as a player, coach and media commentator. He died late last month.
Mourners, former teammates, friends, and on-field enemies met to farewell "King Kerley" this afternoon.
His daughter, Gail, delivered a touching tribute, on his role as a father, grandfather and father-in-law.
"You loved my family and welcomed [my husband] Leigh as one of your own. Your special bond you had with [my son] Campbell, I will always cherish," she said.
"I'm going to miss you every day, Dad.
"Until we meet again. Love you, Pet."
His grandson Campbell remembered his mentoring.
"He taught me how to be positive and competitive. He also taught me how to be respectful and be a gentleman," he said.
"Playing [golf] with Pa was an experience to say the least. He cheated, but that's what made it so much fun."
Wayne Jackson, AFL chief executive from 1996 to 2003 and chairman of West Torrens football club in the 1970s, delivered the eulogy.
"We share the view that there's little more valuable than being able to share experiences and real life issues, confidentially and as close mates, and particularly around the fire at night," he said.
"And so whether it's an adventurer, a family man, a businessman, a sportsman or simply a really good mate, this man was one of a very rare breed of person.
"Of all people who knew Neil well, we are better people for the experience."
Media personality Graham Cornes said few have had "such a long sustaining influence on football" in South Australia.
"If there's one word that defines Neil Kerley, it's leadership. He was born to lead," he said.
"He always, always led from the front.
"It would be debated, but Kerls was the most powerful, charismatic figure of that era.
The state funeral began with a video tribute from South Australian football legends including Graham Cornes and Mark Ricciuto.
The video ended with a grab from the King himself, talking about how he would like to be remembered as "a person that gave everything he possibly had to win".
Calls for Neil Kerley statue
Earlier today, fellow sport icon Ken "KG" Cunningham told ABC Radio Breakfast that his friend of 50 years deserved to be permanently honoured with a statue outside of Adelaide Oval.
"There was nobody in this state that has done more, or had a bigger influence on football than Neil Kerley and he deserves to be recognised in that manner," he said.
"I don't know whether he would be embarrassed by it, but he thoroughly deserves it.
"I would be extremely disappointed if it doesn't happen."
KG joked that the statue would have to be made from "some of the toughest stone you had ever seen in your life".
"We know Kerls was famous for his ugly hands, I don't know whether the sculptor could get the right sort of bits to match those hands that he had," he joked.
KG said his friend was loved by so many people and he hoped the service at Adelaide Oval would be the send-off he deserved.
Career in both playing and coaching
Kerley's 276 game playing career in the SANFL started at West Adelaide in 1957 where he played 165 games before moving to South Adelaide in 1964 for 56 games over three seasons.
He then spent three seasons at Glenelg where for much of the time he was also captain and coach.
He led four premiership sides, two with West Adelaide and one each with South Adelaide and Glenelg.
KG said the 1964 South Adelaide premiership was an incredible moment in his friend's career.
"He captain-coached South Adelaide in 1964 to a premiership at the SANFL and the first time in nearly over 40 years, keeping in mind that the previous year they finished bottom with the same side so to turn the whole thing around, that's one of his all-time great achievements," he said.
"Ironically and sadly South Adelaide have not won a premiership since that premiership in 1964.
"That was the sort of thing that the King, as he was affectionately known as, could do and did."
Kerley also represented South Australia in 32 games, captaining the state side on six occasions and captaining seven times.
He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1997.
