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Graham Farmer

Geelong · “Polly”

AFL career

101 games65 goals

Debut
R1 1962 v CAR21 Apr 1962
Most recent
GF 1967 v RCH23 Sept 1967

Coaching career

66 games24 wins42 losses0 draws

First
R1 1973 v CAR7 Apr 1973
Most recent
R22 1975 v FIT30 Aug 1975

Stats

1967
GEE
21
11.8
12.5
24.2
5.7
2.6
3.6
0.1
0.1
1966
GEE
18
12.9
12.3
25.2
6.2
3.8
3.8
0.8
0.8
1965
GEE
18
10.7
12.1
22.7
4.8
3.5
3.6
0.6
0.7
1964
GEE
19
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.6
-
1963
GEE
19
-
-
-
-
-
-
0.8
-
1962
GEE
6
-
-
-
-
-
-
1.5
-
League
Season
RCH
MCG
GF
11
18
29
7
4
7
14
0.0
CAR
MCG
PF
12
15
27
6
6
2
20
0.0
COL
MCG
SF
14
11
25
11
1
6
15
0.0
RCH
KP
R18
13
17
30
10
5
4
20
0.0
SME
LO
R17
10
8
18
6
1
5
16
0.0
ESS
KP
R16
11
15
26
7
1
2
24
0.0
FIT
KP
R15
10
21
31
3
3
4
16
0.0
HAW
GO
R14
16
14
30
6
5
1
14
0.0
MEL
KP
R13
11
17
28
7
1
2
32
0.0
COL
VP
R12
10
5
15
3
3
6
18
1.1
NTH
KP
R11
12
7
19
5
4
4
27
0.1
STK
MO
R10
9
14
23
4
4
4
13
0.0
FSC
KP
R9
16
13
29
5
5
3
17
0.0
CAR
PP
R8
9
10
19
2
5
3
23
0.0
RCH
MCG
R7
16
9
25
10
1
3
19
0.0
SME
KP
R6
10
11
21
5
1
6
13
0.0
ESS
WH
R5
10
11
21
5
1
4
13
0.0
FIT
PP
R4
11
11
22
2
1
2
16
0.1
HAW
KP
R3
9
14
23
2
1
4
12
0.0
MEL
MCG
R2
15
15
30
8
1
1
5
1.0
COL
KP
R1
12
6
18
5
0
3
4
1.0

Profile

Born
10 Mar 1935
Died
14 Aug 2019 (aged 84y 157d)
Birthplace
North Fremantle, WA
Deathplace
Murdoch, WA
Height
191 cm
Weight
94 kg

Teams

  • Geelong
    101 games, 65 goals
    1962–1967

Coaching

  • Geelong (Senior Coach)
    1973–1975
    66 games (W24 L42 D0), 36.4%

Honours

  • Premiership1963
  • Hall of Fame Legend1996
  • Hall of Fame1996
  • Geelong B&F(2×) 1963, 1964
  • Geelong captain(3×) 1965, 1966, 1967
  • Brownlow Medal
    2nd
    1963
    Top 10
    1965

Bio

1 revision

Graham "Polly" Farmer arrived at Geelong in 1962 as an established superstar from East Perth in the WAFL, rather than a traditional youthful recruit. Already a multiple Sandover Medallist, his transition to the VFL at age 27 was a significant recruiting coup for the Cats, and he immediately asserted his dominance over the Victorian competition. Widely credited with revolutionising the role of the ruckman, Farmer transformed the handball from a defensive last resort into a primary offensive weapon, using his incredible vision to hit moving targets and open up the game from stoppages.

His impact at Kardinia Park was profound, anchoring the team to the 1963 premiership and claiming two club Best and Fairest awards. Farmer captained the club from 1965 until his departure in 1967, playing 101 games before returning to Western Australia to captain-coach West Perth. He is remembered not just as a Geelong great, but as an inaugural Legend of the Australian Football Hall of Fame who fundamentally changed the tactical landscape of the sport.

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