Jeff Farmer (footballer)
A mercurial forward who electrified crowds with his explosive speed and became the first Indigenous player to kick 400 AFL goals.
Born 1977 (age 49)·Australian rules footballer, born 1977·Birthday: June 24·Generation X
Biography
Jeff Farmer, known universally as 'The Wizard,' brought a unique brand of magic to the Australian Football League. His career, spanning Melbourne and Fremantle, was defined by breathtaking bursts of speed, impossible goals from the boundary, and a sheer unpredictability that made him a fan favorite. More than just a highlight reel, Farmer's success carried significant cultural weight, as he navigated the pressures of being a prominent Indigenous athlete in a national spotlight. His playing style, a blend of raw talent and audacious flair, forced defenders into nightmares and left an indelible mark on the game's aesthetic. After retiring, his legacy endures as a trailblazer who played with a joyous, attacking spirit that expanded what seemed possible on the football field.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jeff was born in 1977, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jeff Was Born
The biggest hits of 1977
#1 Movie
Star Wars
Best Picture
Annie Hall
#1 TV Show
Happy Days
Jeff's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1977Born
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1982Started school
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1990Became a teenager
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1993Could drive
European Union officially established
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $86,600Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"I Will Always Love You" — Whitney HoustonBest Picture: Schindler's List
1995Could vote
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Turned 21
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2007Turned 30
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 40
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 49 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Became the first Indigenous Australian rules footballer to kick 400 goals in the AFL.
- Kicked 76 goals in the 2000 AFL season, finishing as the competition's leading goal-kicker.
- Played 249 AFL games across a career with the Melbourne Demons and Fremantle Dockers.
Did You Know?
His nickname 'The Wizard' was coined by a commentator after a spectacular goal.
He was drafted by Melbourne with pick 48 in the 1994 AFL Draft.
In 2000, he kicked a career-best 11 goals in a single game against Collingwood.
“You have to back yourself and have a crack from anywhere.”
