Who invented the handball in AFL Footy?

Question

Some say it was Graham Polly Farmer, is this true?

Answer 1

History of use

The handball was written into the first rules of Australian Football in 1858. It is similar to the open hand tap in Gaelic football, but differentiates the hand skills from codes of football derived from rugby football.

Prior to the 1970s in the VFL, handball was largely a secondary skill to the kick (i.e. only used as a last resort) until the Carlton Football Club's 1970 Grand Final victory under Ron Barassi. This premiership win was particularly famous as the team came from a seemingly hopeless position at half-time. Barassi's strategy was to use a radically new style of play based on keeping possession and the use of the handpass as much as possible. The skill came into prevalence in other states at different times; Sturt coach Jack Oatey is credited with encouraging the skill through the late 1960s.

In the 1980s, Richmond Football Club wingman Kevin Bartlett became famous for his style of play which involved use of the handball to dispose of the ball before an opponent was about to tackle. By handballing to space in front of himself and use his pace to redeem the ball, he was frequently able to avoid being penalised for holding the ball. This non-handpassing technique was highly influential in the game and later employed successfully by wingmen like West Coast Eagles' Peter Matera.

The handpass has become almost as common as the kick in the modern game. It is often used particularly by midfielders to set up play before a well placed kick into the forward line.

Marking players often look for a runner and handpass. This is primarily because time is lost moving away from the man on the mark to take a kick, and the runner is often in a better position to see a player leading downfield and deliver the ball to them more quickly.

Masters of the handball/handpass

There have been many great exponents of the handball, including:

Graham 'Polly' Farmer

Greg Williams

Barry Cable

Andrew Jarman

Dale Weightman

Michael Voss

Answer 2

I remember reading/ hearing somewhere that Kevin Sheedy invented the 'rocket' handball (that spins backwards) could be wrong though.

Answer 3

great answer gfcbarracker!! ...I was merely gonna say it's been around since the invention of the game in 1858 (and 'Polly' Farmer wasn't even born at that time!)

Answer 4

Good question, but i dont really know, why did you need too know anyway.

Answer 5

Yea i think it was, i heard it on the tv the other day. im not too sure though. all i know is that is was invented by a dude.