50 years since Polly debuted for Geelong

[Kwality]

Polly Farmer debuted in the VFL in the 1st round of 1963, 50 years this year.

Polly had debuted for East Perth in 1953 aged 18, won a Tassie Medal, 3 Sandover Medals, 7 x B&Fs at East Perth, played in 3 x Premierships before going East after 176 games.

During his career, Farmer played a record 31 games for Western Australia, five games for Victoria, and was selected in the All-Australian team in 1956, 1958 and 1961. He played 356 league games in total, including 30 finals, 10 grand finals and six premierships.

Any chance Geelong might celebrate the occasion?

Polly coached Geelong for a couple of years in the 70s after leading West Perth to 2 x premierships as a playing coach.

A true legend of the game, including the captaincy of the Indigenous Team of the century.

 

[UpForGrabs]

(Should be 1st round of 1962)

Won 10 Best and Fairest awards in his career. Giant of the game.

Also coached East Perth in 1976 and 1977 - taking them to a losing GF appearance in 1976. Got shafted from the job when the Royals realised that Barry Cable was coming home to play and coach and that Perth were too good at that stage to give him the job.

 

[mick ryan]

Can still remember it, not the best of days for Polly but memorable nonetheless.

 

[RogersResults]

(Should be 1st round of 1962)

Won 10 Best and Fairest awards in his career. Giant of the game.

Also coached East Perth in 1976 and 1977 - taking them to a losing GF appearance in 1976. Got shafted from the job when the Royals realised that Barry Cable was coming home to play and coach and that Perth were too good at that stage to give him the job.

April 21 1962 at Princes Park in front of 41,846. Geelong 19.13-127 v Carlton 13.10-88. Farmer injured his knee in that first match an injury that eventually reduced his first season to 6 matches. A Carlton supporter in the outer not thrilled by my vocal support for Polly and the Cats said, "Listen kid, if I give you 2 bob will you go and stand somewhere else"?

Farmer changed the game. Few in Victoria had ever seen a player with his skills and use of handball. There is an end to end sequence in the 1963 Grand Final which starts with a 30 metre handball from Farmer ending with a goal for Geelong that looks completely modern. His three seasons as coach at Geelong (1973-5) are generally regarded as not a success but he laid foundations for the team to make the finals in following seasons after being absent for six. His coaching style like his use of handball was too perhaps ahead of its time. When football for many was still a part-time pastime, Farmer demanded but didn't always get full commitment from his charges. He could never understand anybody doing something without doing it at their maximum possible best.

When Brad Ottens went down on his knees in the ruck contest and handballed in the first seconds of the 2011 Grand Final, I felt an echo of 'Polly'.

 

[Donakebab]

Please keep up to date with every 50th anniversary.

 

[CF]

total legend what can I say

 

[Lord Rod]

April 21 1962 at Princes Park in front of 41,846. Geelong 19.13-127 v Carlton 13.10-88. Farmer injured his knee in that first match an injury that eventually reduced his first season to 6 matches. A Carlton supporter in the outer not thrilled by my vocal support for Polly and the Cats said, "Listen kid, if I give you 2 bob will you go and stand somewhere else"?

Farmer changed the game. Few in Victoria had ever seen a player with his skills and use of handball. There is an end to end sequence in the 1963 Grand Final which starts with a 30 metre handball from Farmer ending with a goal for Geelong that looks completely modern. His three seasons as coach at Geelong (1973-5) are generally regarded as not a success but he laid foundations for the team to make the finals in following seasons after being absent for six. His coaching style like his use of handball was too perhaps ahead of its time. When football for many was still a part-time pastime, Farmer demanded but didn't always get full commitment from his charges. He could never understand anybody doing something without doing it at their maximum possible best.

When Brad Ottens went down on his knees in the ruck contest and handballed in the first seconds of the 2011 Grand Final, I felt an echo of 'Polly'.

Quality post..Thanks for the insight

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

April 21 1962 at Princes Park in front of 41,846. Geelong 19.13-127 v Carlton 13.10-88. Farmer injured his knee in that first match an injury that eventually reduced his first season to 6 matches. A Carlton supporter in the outer not thrilled by my vocal support for Polly and the Cats said, "Listen kid, if I give you 2 bob will you go and stand somewhere else"?

Ha! I knew you were a Cats man! 'Unlisted', eh? On a more serious note, did you score the two shillings?

 

[Wernumberone]

Geelong board.

 

[Geelong_Sicko]

Geelong board.

Everywhere's the Geelong board. Even the 'Essendon' one is just a Geelong sub-board.

 

[RogersResults]

Ha! I knew you were a Cats man! 'Unlisted', eh? On a more serious note, did you score the two shillings?

I might have been an East Perth supporter following Polly.

I didn't take the money on principle, thinking I must be doing something right.

 

[Wernumberone]

Everywhere's the Geelong board. Even the 'Essendon' one is just a Geelong sub-board.

We are bored of Geelong....

 

[Dormammu]

Also coached East Perth in 1976 and 1977 - taking them to a losing GF appearance in 1976. Got shafted from the job when the Royals realised that Barry Cable was coming home to play and coach and that Perth were too good at that stage to give him the job.

Polly is the best footballer I have ever seen, period.

But we were right to sack him - if anything we should have moved him on earlier, but lacked the guts.

 

[STC]

We are bored of Geelong....

If you don't want to read about other clubs (let alone absolute legends of the game who shaped the way it was played), stick to the Essendon board.

 

[Wernumberone]

If you don't want to read about other clubs (let alone absolute legends of the game who shaped the way it was played), stick to the Essendon board.

You would think a guy with a trophy on his head would get the joke...

 

[mick ryan]

April 21 1962 at Princes Park in front of 41,846. Geelong 19.13-127 v Carlton 13.10-88. Farmer injured his knee in that first match an injury that eventually reduced his first season to 6 matches. A Carlton supporter in the outer not thrilled by my vocal support for Polly and the Cats said, "Listen kid, if I give you 2 bob will you go and stand somewhere else"?

Farmer changed the game. Few in Victoria had ever seen a player with his skills and use of handball. There is an end to end sequence in the 1963 Grand Final which starts with a 30 metre handball from Farmer ending with a goal for Geelong that looks completely modern. His three seasons as coach at Geelong (1973-5) are generally regarded as not a success but he laid foundations for the team to make the finals in following seasons after being absent for six. His coaching style like his use of handball was too perhaps ahead of its time. When football for many was still a part-time pastime, Farmer demanded but didn't always get full commitment from his charges. He could never understand anybody doing something without doing it at their maximum possible best.

When Brad Ottens went down on his knees in the ruck contest and handballed in the first seconds of the 2011 Grand Final, I felt an echo of 'Polly'.

Good post, do you remember the details of the incident that caused Polly's knee injury?

 

[RogersResults]

Good post, do you remember the details of the incident that caused Polly's knee injury?

The injury was eventually diagnosed as a torn cartilage. It may have happened in a heavy collision with Carlton's Maurie Sankey soon after the start of the match when Farmer's knee collided with Sankey's side. Sankey suffered severe internal bruising and later collapsed after the match and was taken to hospital. Farmer played the next three matches and then broke down. Unsuccessful comebacks were tried in rounds 9 and 17 before he agreed to be operated on. Knee surgery at the time had a low success rate.

 

[CF]

Polly is the best footballer I have ever seen, period.

I agree he was a game changer and one of the best to play the game ever. Not as good as Carey, Ablett snr, or Lethal though IMO. But would make a top 20 best ever players type list.

 

[Jentleman Geff]

When Brad Ottens went down on his knees in the ruck contest and handballed in the first seconds of the 2011 Grand Final, I felt an echo of 'Polly'.

Amen. I thought that moment was very symbolic of what Geelong represents.

 

[Mitchell Madness]

Amen. I thought that moment was very symbolic of what Geelong represents.

what's that?
going to thier knees at every chance?
sorry, I had to, you set it up!

 

[mick ryan]

The injury was eventually diagnosed as a torn cartilage. It may have happened in a heavy collision with Carlton's Maurie Sankey soon after the start of the match when Farmer's knee collided with Sankey's side. Sankey suffered severe internal bruising and later collapsed after the match and was taken to hospital. Farmer played the next three matches and then broke down. Unsuccessful comebacks were tried in rounds 9 and 17 before he agreed to be operated on. Knee surgery at the time had a low success rate.

Yes it happened at the opening bounce when they collided and Polly went down, the reaction amongst the Geelong crowd was quite palpable. From memory it was a full crowd at Princes Park, as the Carlton ground was known then, and they opened the gates. I understand that Maurie Sankey passed away a couple of years ago. A memorable start to the great mans VFL career.

 

[mick ryan]

I agree he was a game changer and one of the best to play the game ever. Not as good as Carey, Ablett snr, or Lethal though IMO. But would make a top 20 best ever players type list.

Different type of player in a different era, very dangerous to compare players of a different era. All of those you mentioned were great players but none of them changed the way the game was played as Polly did. He was that good that the then coach of Melbourne the late Norm Smith tried to get the rules changed to counter his influence.

 

[Jentleman Geff]

He was every bit as good as Carey, Ablett and Matthews.

 

[refresh]

I agree he was a game changer and one of the best to play the game ever. Not as good as Carey, Ablett snr, or Lethal though IMO. But would make a top 20 best ever players type list.

Carey, Ablett snr, or Lethal did not change the game forever. Farmer did!

Victorians did not see the best of Polly

 

[masai]

I agree he was a game changer and one of the best to play the game ever. Not as good as Carey, Ablett snr, or Lethal though IMO. But would make a top 20 best ever players type list.

Nah, I'd have them all on the same tier.

Having seen Polly play ( in his twighlight ), he definitely would not need to look up to Carey & Ablett snr.