Coaching icon John Kennedy Snr became the 29th person elevated to Legend status in the Australian Football Hall of Fame on Monday night.
Kennedy is three-time premiership coach at Hawthorn and played 164 games for the Hawks, winning four best and fairest awards and served as captain for five seasons.
The 91-year-old was named coach of Hawthorn’s Team of the Century and is immortalised in bronze at the club’s Waverley Park training base.
He also coached North Melbourne between 1985-1989.
"For people to include me in that group who are thought of as Legends, who were such marvellous opponents, I was very surprised and it certainly gave me great happiness to be told," Kennedy said.
St Kilda champion Lenny Hayes was also recognised when inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame.
The universally loved midfielder is a three-time best and fairest winner and was named All-Australian on four occasions during his stellar 297-game career.
Hayes won the Norm Smith Medal in the drawn 2010 Grand Final and skippered St Kilda in 2004 and 2007.
"When I did get the call there was a bit of shock to be honest. It's a little bit of a finale," Hayes said.
"As it's been able to sink in it's a tremendous honour for me and my family.
"The more I've been out of the game, you do have more time to reflect on your playing career and what it was like.
"I look back and am really proud and thankful for the career I've had."