The Graham Farmer Freeway which passes through Optus Stadium is named in his honour.
Its the Polly Pipe that gets the Vics going.
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The Graham Farmer Freeway which passes through Optus Stadium is named in his honour.
1996 | Graham Farmer | Geelong/ East Perth/ West Perth | Became a rucking giant after crossing from Western Australia. His tap-outs were attacking and his handball revolutionised the game in Victoria. Also capable of playing for much of his career with injury. A great leader. | Playing career: 1953-1971 (East Perth 1953-1961, Geelong 1962-1967, West Perth 1968-1971). Games: 356 (East Perth 176, Geel 101, West Perth 79) Goals: (East Perth NA, Geel 65, West Perth 55). Player honours: Sandover Medal 1956, 1957, 1960; 2nd in Brownlow Medal 1963 (equal); Geel best and fairest 1963, 1964; Geel premiership 1963; EP best and fairest 1954, 1955, 1956, 1957, 1959, 1960, 1961; EP premierships 1956, 1958, 1959; WP best and fairest 1969; WP premierships 1969, 1971 (captain-coach); All-Australian 1956, 1958, 1961. Coaching record: Geelong 1973-1975 (66 games, 24 wins, 42 losses). |
I watched a lot of Polly's games for the Cats and a few interstate games. He remains the best ruckman I have seen. People rightly point to his use of handball changing the game but he was also a clever and accurate kick. He also had wonderful visions and footy IQ.
He also remains a peerless palmer of the ball to his rovers.
People will rattle on about his battles with Nichols. They were really no contest other than the latter would try every filthy trick against him.
us old farts remember him, RIP to one f the all time greatsAnyone on here ever see him live? My uncle did and said he was remarkable to watch.
True legend of Football.
May he rest in peace. Vale Polly
When Polly captain-coached West Perth in a GF he got physical, 'took out the axe' my father called it, can you recall it?
Pioneer in every sense. He was such an important trailblazer for his community, at a time when the government still considered indigenous Australians to be sub-human. Its crazy to think he was captain of Geelong, yet legally wasn't allowed to vote.
Not only did Polly change the game forever, he also did it with one leg shorter than the other(from polio). The man is an absolute legend. Rip.
Mate I am getting on but I was under 5 when this happened. lol
Whipper snapper , I was there but trying to see ducking between the heads, I'll look it up.
East Perth were way ahead of kevin sheedy in playing indigineous footballers.Most probably my biggest regret was that when he came back from Victoria he played for west perth and not at east perth.would have loved to watch him every week play for us.You might be interested to know the East Perth premiership sides of the 50s included e indigenous team of the century members (Polly, Square Kilmurray & Jack Hunt) and Billy Roe from the 1956 side is a NT Hall of Famer. Polly was the leader.
Unfortunately for us Royals, Polly was taken for granted by East Perth who just assumed he would return to the club once he had finished up at Geelong.East Perth were way ahead of kevin sheedy in playing indigineous footballers.Most probably my biggest regret was that when he came back from Victoria he played for west perth and not at east perth.would have loved to watch him every week play for us.
Yep Polly was not a sniper or cheap shot Charlie, but in the spirit of the times, if he saw an opportunity he never declined.When Polly captain-coached West Perth in a GF he got physical, 'took out the axe' my father called it, can you recall it?
A feature of Pollys game before the knee injury was leaping early into the opposing ruckman and contrlling his body in the air to palm or grag/handball - so effective 1957 & 4 time AA East Freo champ Jack Clarke argued it was outside the rules. He didnt succeed.
In the 50s Polly competed against outstanding ruckman, including fellow Sandover Medallists including Clarke, Brian Foley & Merv McIntosh.
East Perth were way ahead of kevin sheedy in playing indigineous footballers.Most probably my biggest regret was that when he came back from Victoria he played for west perth and not at east perth.would have loved to watch him every week play for us.
Yep Polly was not a sniper or cheap shot Charlie, but in the spirit of the times, if he saw an opportunity he never declined.
Keith Doncon in the '69 Grand Final was crunched by the big man at the opening bounce and never played again at league level.
The preceding second-semi between West and East Perth is part of WA folk lore for it's toughness and brutal clashes and that was in part down to Polly's take no prisoners approach.
I recall he also made mince meat of some poor Croweater when he represented the VFL one year.
He played hard but without spite.