Polly Farmer

[0918330512]

It must have been among the deleted posts but someone was saying that Newman was a disgrace for saying that he had taught Polly Farmer everything he knew. I'm not sure if he did make a quip to that effect but Newman has certainly also made measured but generous tribute to Farmer's greatness and to his own debt to Farmer both in football and in life: Sam Newman's beautiful tribute to Polly Farmer | AFL 360 - YouTube.

Yeah it was deleted and probably mis-quoted as this was reported ...
“Sam Newman, Farmer's ruck understudy for four years at Geelong and one of his greatest fans, once told the Geelong Advertiser: "Without speaking one word, he (Farmer) taught me everything I know. I watched how a man overcomes not the physical, not the mental, but the spiritual – that's the most important."”

Sam may (& does) say some silly things, however, he often shows reverence for yesteryears greats.

[bloodspirit]

It must have been among the deleted posts but someone was saying that Newman was a disgrace for saying that he had taught Polly Farmer everything he knew. I'm not sure if he did make a quip to that effect but Newman has certainly also made measured but generous tribute to Farmer's greatness and to his own debt to Farmer both in football and in life: Sam Newman's beautiful tribute to Polly Farmer | AFL 360 - YouTube.

[crackedactor]

I miss Mike. A bit testy but a good one. No frills, all substance.

Mike could have been a great ruckman not just a good one if not for those damn dodgy knees. Polly Farmer was one of th best and changed the way handball was used. My father use to say if you beat him once in the ruck he would always find a way to beat you the second time around.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk

[Bloods05]

Jeez.

- - - Updated - - -

That's better. This thread is no place for political point scoring. Polly was a great exponent of the handball who deserves to be recognised for how he changed our game (for better or for worse). Instead of hand balling only when he couldn't kick, he old handball as soon as he took possession, namely because his kicking was so poor. Others copied him and the game became more mobile.

Political? Seriously?

- - - Updated - - -

That's better. This thread is no place for political point scoring. Polly was a great exponent of the handball who deserves to be recognised for how he changed our game (for better or for worse). Instead of hand balling only when he couldn't kick, he old handball as soon as he took possession, namely because his kicking was so poor. Others copied him and the game became more mobile.

Polly's kicking was not at all poor. By the standards of the time he was quite a good kick. Remarkably, he made himself into a left-footer mid-career after injuring his right knee.

[S.S. Bleeder]

That's better. This thread is no place for political point scoring. Polly was a great exponent of the handball who deserves to be recognised for how he changed our game (for better or for worse). Instead of hand balling only when he couldn't kick, he old handball as soon as he took possession, namely because his kicking was so poor. Others copied him and the game became more mobile.

[S.S. Bleeder]

Very sad to hear the passing of another VFL legend. Hope today's crop of AFL Journo's fully respect & understand how Polly revolutionised the game. Would've been something seeing he & John Nicholls matching it up in the ruck back in their hey days.

From memory Polly was only about 6'3" and Nicholls about 6'1". These days we have midfielders who are 6'5".

[KSAS]

Very sad to hear the passing of another VFL legend. Hope today's crop of AFL Journo's fully respect & understand how Polly revolutionised the game. Would've been something seeing he & John Nicholls matching it up in the ruck back in their hey days.

[bloodspirit]

Before my time, but sounds like he was really something. I'm interested to know more about how come people didn't handball except in case of emergency and how he changed this.

[gazza]

a true legend polly farmer. changed the game all by himself. sadly missed. a hero of mine

[stevoswan]

Polly.....what a legend of the game. Still one of the best hand ballers ever. He and Barry Cable....and Greg Williams. Polly was my Dad's hero (and he was a Swans fan). RIP....

[bloodspirit]

I miss Mike. A bit testy but a good one. No frills, all substance.

[Meg]

Mike Pyke once told the story of how he was under instruction from Paul Roos always to handball when he had possession of the ball. But one time Mike couldn’t see a good handball option, and anyway Mike thought he could kick ok, so he took a shot at goal.

In the subsequent break Roos screamed at him ‘Who do you think you are, Polly bloody Farmer?’.

Mike said there was just one problem - he had no idea who Polly Farmer was [emoji1787].

He subsequently learnt. A ruckman legend.

[Blood Fever]

Sad.

Revolutionised the game. Probably the greatest indigenous player and that's saying something!

[AnnieH]

Sad.

[Bloods05]

Polly Farmer has died. Great footballer I was privileged to see many times.