Jimmy Bartel
A fierce, big-game midfielder with a knack for the spectacular, he was the relentless heart of Geelong's modern dynasty.
Born 1983 (age 43)·Australian rules footballer, born 1983·Birthday: December 4·Millennials
Biography
Jimmy Bartel wasn't the flashiest name in Geelong's storied 2000s lineup, but he was its indispensable engine. A utility in the truest sense, he could—and did—dominate in the midfield, drift forward to kick crucial goals, or shore up the defense with his fierce tackling. His game was built on sublime skill, uncompromising courage, and a preternatural calm in final quarters. Bartel's legacy is etched in big moments: a Norm Smith Medal for best on ground in the 2011 Grand Final, a Brownlow Medal in 2007 as the league's fairest and best, and three premiership flags that crowned a Geelong golden era. Off the field, his thoughtful demeanor and advocacy, including shaving his head for charity and speaking on social issues, revealed a competitor with depth, making him a respected figure long after his last game.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Jimmy was born in 1983, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jimmy Was Born
The biggest hits of 1983
#1 Movie
Return of the Jedi
Best Picture
Terms of Endearment
#1 TV Show
60 Minutes
Jimmy's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1983Born
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1988Started school
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1996Became a teenager
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
1999Could drive
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2001Could vote
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2004Turned 21
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2013Turned 30
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 40
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 43 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Brownlow Medal in 2007 as the Australian Football League's best and fairest player.
- Awarded the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground in the 2011 AFL Grand Final, a key to Geelong's victory.
- Played a central role in three AFL premierships with the Geelong Football Club (2007, 2009, 2011).
- Selected as an All-Australian team member in 2007 and 2008, recognizing him as one of the league's elite players.
Did You Know?
He famously shaved his head for charity every year during his playing career, raising millions for the Barwon Health Foundation.
Bartel is a noted cricket fan and a talented junior cricketer who once considered pursuing the sport professionally.
He won the AFL's Jim Stynes Community Leadership Award in 2011 for his off-field charity work.
After retirement, he transitioned into a respected media analyst and commentator for Australian football.
“I just wanted to be the player the coach never had to worry about.”
