WAFL rivals compete for Polly Farmer Shield Thursday, March 23, 2017 - 10:57 AM

WAFL rivals East Perth Football Club and West Perth Football Club will compete for the annual Polly Farmer Shield this Sunday, March 16 at HBF Arena to recognise and celebrate Farmer’s success as one of the greatest players at each club.

The clash will be live on 7Mate from 1.30pm.

WAFL General Manager Steve Hargrave said the Polly Farmer Shield is a fitting tribute to the WA Football and Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend.

“The name Polly Farmer is synonymous with WA Football and it is fantastic that both of his WAFL clubs will pay tribute to his contribution by playing each other once a year for the Polly Farmer Shield.

“The WAFL is honoured that Polly Farmer’s name will continue to be associated with the competition and I thank Polly and his family for embracing the concept and accepting the acknowledgment.

“We should always cherish and remember the great players of the past. They are an important part of our history and culture that future generations should recognise,” he said.

Graham (Polly) Vivian Farmer

Honours: Sandover Meal 1956-57, 60, WA Football Hall of Fame legend; AFL Hall of Fame legend; Equal second BrownlowMedal 1963; fairest and best East Perth 1954-57, 59-61, Geelong 1963-64, West Perth 1969; member 1961 carnival team; All-Australian 1956, 58, 61; Tassie Medal 1956; Simpson Medal 1956 (WA v SA), 58 (WA v Victoria), 59 (WAFL grand final); coach West Perth 1968-71, Geelong 1973-75, East Perth 1976-77; WA captain six times, coach six times; First West Australian awarded MBE for services to football 1970

Of more than 10,000 league footballers in WA’s rich history, Graham “Polly” Farmer sits head and shoulders above the pack.  In 1996 the Australian Football League bestowed legend status on 12 champions in the inaugural Australian Football Hall of Fame.  Farmer was one of them.  The same year he was named ruckman in the AFL’s team of the century, the only West Australian to get a guernsey.

It is widely considered that the title of best player of all time is a toss-up between Farmer and Hawthorn legend Leigh Matthews. Both could single-handedly turn a game.

The only accolade to elude Farmer was the Brownlow Medal. More than just a champion player, he changed the game. His trademark handball revolutionized the ruck.

In the 1950’s he was the power behind East Perth’s six-year domination of WA football. Arch rival, Carlton’s John Nicholls, described him as the best ruckman he had ever played against.  Another Victorian great, Ron Barassi, said “He is dedicated to the elimination of error.”

Farmer returned to WA as captain-coach of West Perth in 1968 and the following year he had one of his best seasons, despite being 34. He was runner-up in the Sandover Medal, won West Perth’s fairest and best award and led the club to a premiership.