POLLY MEMENTOS HEAD TO AUCTION
A TREASURE trove of footy legend Graham “Polly” Farmer’s memorabilia is going under the hammer.
More than 100 medals, photos and keepsakes will be offered by Abacus Auctions in Mount Waverley on July 25, with proceeds going to the Farmer estate.
The lots include dozens of awards handed to one of the greatest players of the game, including a 1963 premiership medal, two Carji Greeves medals, four VFL team of the year medals, three WANFL premiership medals and even a rarely seen Tassie medal — awarded to the best player at the 1956 Australian Rules Interstate Carnival.
Collectors of quirky items will have plenty to bid for too, including letters from Richmond and Hawthorn trying to lure the West Australian to their clubs in 1961 — he went to Geelong, where he played six seasons. Also on the table is a collection of audiotapes titled The Dynamics of Goalpower Football — A Personal Success Programme by Graham Polly Farmer, and a 1979 achievement award from Ford for outstanding Cortina sales performance.
Abacus Auctions’ sports specialist, Max Williamson, said he was excited to see the collection on the market.
“I’ve learned a lot about Polly from writing up the collection,” he said.
“For most of us he’s before our time, but they throw the words ‘legend of the game’ around, but he really changed the game with both his ruckwork and use of handball, he changed the way the game’s played. So he really was a champion of the game.”
Mr Williamson said he had tried to be “conservative” with price estimates, which range from $100 for a range of items including the Goalpower tapes to $20,000 for a 9ct gold 1956 Tassie medal.
The football world was left in mourning last August when Farmer, 84, died in Perth.
More than 300 people farewelled the Cats legend at a Kardinia Park ceremony.