Career
Geelong (VFL)
Hamer was a half forward, defender and ruckman, recruited to Geelong from Lemnos, a Shepparton based club He made his debut in the opening round of the 1961 VFL season against Collingwood, one of eight appearances he would make that year. In 1962 he was one of three Geelong players to appear in all 21 games.
This included both the drawn preliminary final against Carlton and the controversial five-point loss in the replay a week later.
He brought up his 50th league game in the penultimate round of the 1965 home and away season. At the end of the year, at the age of just 22, Hamer was granted a clearance to join Wimmera Football League side Horsham as playing coach.
Coaching career
From 1966 to 1970, Hamer coached a strong Horsham side, which made the finals each year. In his first season he finished second in the Toohey Medal and led Horsham to the grand final, which they lost to Nhill, the game decided off the last kick.
He then led Horsham to back to back premierships in 1967 and 1968.
He was considered one of the favorites to fill the vacant position of Geelong senior coach for the 1976 VFL season, having just steered the reserves team to the 1975 premiership, his sixth since he began coaching. The job however went to Rodney Olsson and Hamer remained at the club as an assistant coach in 1976, before joining Barwon. He was coach of Geelong West in the 1982 VFA season.
Cricket
Hamer also played for the Richmond Cricket Club in Victorian district cricket, as a fast bowler.
In the 1963/64 summer, Hamer was chosen to represent a Victorian Country XI, against the touring South Africans at Kardinia Park. He took 3/50 and had Eddie Barlow as one of his wickets, bowled for a duck.
When the Marylebone Cricket Club (Master Control Console) came to Horsham in 1970/71, Hamer again represented Victoria Country and dismissed Colin Cowdrey leg before wicket for a duck.
