Polly Farmer MBE | |||
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![]() Farmer in 1954 | |||
Personal information | |||
Full name | Graham Vivian Farmer | ||
Nickname(s) | Polly | ||
Date of birth | 10 March 1935 | ||
Place of birth | North Fremantle, Western Australia, Australia | ||
Date of death | 14 August 2019 | (aged 84)||
Place of death | Murdoch, Western Australia | ||
Original team(s) | Maddington (SSFA) | ||
Height | 191 cm (6 ft 3 in) | ||
Weight | 94 kg (207 lb) | ||
Position(s) | Ruckman | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1953–1961 | East Perth | 176 (157) | |
1962–1967 | Geelong | 101 (65) | |
1968–1971 | West Perth | 79 (55) | |
Total | 356 (277) | ||
Representative team honours | |||
Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
1955–1971 | Western Australia | 31 (17) | |
1963–1965 | Victoria | 5 (?) | |
International team honours | |||
1968 | Australia | ||
Coaching career3 | |||
Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
1968–1971 | West Perth | 91 (60–29–2) | |
1973–1975 | Geelong | 66 (24–42–0) | |
1976–1977 | East Perth | 45 (30–15–0) | |
1970–1971, 1977 | Western Australia | 6 (2–4–0) | |
Total | 208 (116-90-2) | ||
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1971. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1977. | |||
Career highlights | |||
Club
Representative
Overall
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Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com |
Graham Vivian "Polly" Farmer MBE (10 March 1935 – 14 August 2019) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Geelong Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the East Perth Football Club and West Perth Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).
Born in Western Australia and of indigenous heritage through his Noongar mother, Farmer is considered one of the greatest footballers in the game's history; when the Australian Football Hall of Fame was established in 1996, Farmer was among the 12 inaugural players given "legend" status.[1] He is primarily recognised for the way he revolutionised ruckwork and handballing.
After retiring as a player, Farmer returned to Geelong to become the VFL's first coach of indigenous background,[2] and he was also named coach of Western Australia's first State of Origin team.
The Graham Farmer Freeway in his hometown of Perth is named in his honour.
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