Topend Sports Logo

Graham (Polly) Farmer: Australian Football

Graham Vivian “Polly” Farmer, MBE (born 10 March 1935 in Western Australia) was a Australian rules football player and coach. He started his career with East Perth in the WAFL where he played from 1953 to 1961 with a total of 176 games. Farmer was then recruited to the Victorian Football League in 1962 for the Geelong Football Club where he played 101 games and became captain for three seasons. In 1968, he returned to Western Australia and became the coach and captain of the West Perth Football Club that led the club to several premierships against East Perth.



Greatest Sporting Achievements

Farmer has a Legend Status in the Australian Hall of Fame. He’s received the Tassie Medal in 1956, All-Australian three times and Simpson Medal twice. He helped the club win the WAFL Premiership five times from 1956, 1958 to 1959, 1969 and 1971 and the VFL Premiership in 1963. Polly Farmer is a seven-time East Perth Best and Fairest; two-time Geelong Best and Fairest and a one-time West Perth Best and Fairest. He was vice captain when they won the Western Australian Team of the Century Award and the captain of the Indigenous Team of the Century.

Why Was He So Good?

Graham Farmer was an unskilled ruckman but he was ground-breaking and exceptionally effective when using the hand pass as an offensive weapon. His direction was always flawless and the distance was regularly as good as a kick.

What You May Not Know

Was he a legend?

Do you agree with Graham Farmer being an AFL legend?

How would you rate their greatness? (from good to 'the best')



Related Pages

send us a comment Any comments, suggestions, or corrections? Please let us know.

Profiles Extra

There are profiles of past athlete champions from a large range of sports. See also profiles of Olympic athletes and pages about sporting heroes.

 → How to Cite