14th August 2019
Graham "Polly" Farmer was one of Australia's greatest Australian rules footballers, known for revolutionizing the game with his innovative playing style and exceptional skills. Here’s a detailed look at his life:
Early Life
Graham Vivian Farmer was born on March 10, 1935, in North Fremantle, Western Australia. He was of Aboriginal descent and faced significant challenges growing up. After his father died when he was just 18 months old, Polly was placed in Sister Kate's Orphanage, where he lived until he was 14. Despite the hardships, Polly showed remarkable talent in sports, particularly Australian rules football, from a young age.
Football Career
Polly Farmer’s football career began in earnest when he joined the East Perth Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) in 1953. He quickly made a name for himself as an exceptional ruckman, a position that requires both strength and strategic thinking. Farmer's most significant contribution to the game was his revolutionary use of the handball. He used it not just to get out of trouble but as an offensive weapon, creating plays and moving the ball quickly up the field.
Farmer's success at East Perth led to his recruitment by Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL) in 1962. Despite a knee injury in his first season, Farmer became one of the most influential players in the league. His ruck work, combined with his precise handballing, set new standards in the game.
Achievements
**East Perth Football Club (1953–1961, 1968–1971): Farmer won three Sandover Medals (1956, 1957, 1960), awarded to the best and fairest player in the league. He also led East Perth to several premierships.
**Geelong Football Club (1962–1967): At Geelong, Farmer was instrumental in leading the club to a premiership in 1963. His contributions to the team and the game of football in general have left a lasting legacy.
**Coaching Career: After his playing career, Farmer transitioned into coaching, leading West Perth and East Perth, and serving as a mentor to many young Aboriginal players.
Legacy
Polly Farmer's impact on Australian rules football cannot be overstated. He was named in the Australian Football League (AFL) Team of the Century, and the Polly Farmer Freeway in Perth is named in his honor, symbolizing his significance not only to football but to the community at large. Farmer was also the first Australian rules footballer to be appointed a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in 1971.
Personal Life and Later Years
Farmer married Marlene and had three children. He was known for his quiet demeanor off the field, in contrast to his commanding presence on it. In his later years, Farmer suffered from Alzheimer’s disease, and his brain was donated to science after his death on August 14, 2019, to study the effects of head trauma in sports.
Farmer’s influence on the game and his role as a trailblazer for Indigenous Australians in sport remain an integral part of his legacy.
* as depicted by AI - may not factually be correct