A utility, 1.87 m (6 ft 1+1⁄2 in) tall and weighing 89 kilograms (196 lb), Bartel contributed as a midfielder, forward, and defender.

When his parents divorced while he was just one year old, Bartel's mother was left to raise him and his two elder sisters, Olivia and Emma, by herself.

[3] Although his age made him ineligible for the 2000 AFL Draft, Bartel garnered an impressive array of accolades and honours as a bottom-aged player.

Although failing to repeat his previous success as national champion with Victoria Country, Bartel's individual performances saw him earn All-Australian honours and gain selection in the TAC Cup Team of the Year for the second consecutive season.

[3] After making his debut in the opening round of the 2002 AFL premiership season, which was a heavy defeat to Essendon, Bartel went on to play in 11 out of a possible 22 senior games over the year.

[3] In helping the Cats defeat Port Melbourne by 22 points, Bartel saw the club secure its first major piece of silverware since 1982.

Averaging just 12 disposals a game, Bartel was unable to help the Cats qualify for the finals series for the third successive season.

[4] After just two senior appearances to begin the 2004 AFL season, Bartel was again dropped back to the VFL and instructed by coaching staff to work on particular aspects of his game.

Despite compiling a series of impressive games in the VFL, Bartel was deliberately made to work hard over a two-month period before earning a round 10 recall into the senior side.

Although Geelong were eliminated in the preliminary final by reigning premiers Brisbane, Bartel's averages of 22 disposals and 5 tackles a game over the course of the season had seen him secure his position within the team's midfield rotation.

[4] His performances during the second half of the season, during which he averaged 29 disposals and 5 tackles a game,[4] also saw him recognised as the highest-polling Geelong player—with 13 votes in total—during the 2004 Brownlow Medal count.

[6] Averaging 19.6 disposals a game, Bartel again helped Geelong qualify for the season-ending finals series, where they met Sydney in the semi-finals.

[4] After helping the Cats claim the McClelland Trophy, he was again nominated for the AFLPA Robert Rose Award as the game's most courageous player,[7] and was also rewarded with his first All-Australian jumper.

[9] Despite missing the final two games of the regular season due to a burst appendix,[9] Bartel also set an AFL record alongside teammate Gary Ablett, Jr., for polling the most combined votes ever by two players of the same club.

Bartel's 28 disposals, 5 marks, 5 tackles, and 2 goals in the 2007 AFL Grand Final helped the Cats claim an AFL-record 119-point victory over Port Adelaide.

Geelong would have another dominant season finishing first on the ladder four wins ahead of second they would once again make the Grand Final, but would fall short losing to Hawthorn by 26 points.

Geelong decided to delist Steve Johnson, James Kelly, and Matthew Stokes while limiting Corey Enright, Andrew Mackie and Jimmy Bartel all to 1-year contract extensions.

[2] Off the field, Bartel holds a part-time job within the Geelong Football Club's social welfare department.

[16] Bartel's cousin Josh is a former professional Canadian Football League punter for the Saskatchewan Roughriders and Hamilton Tiger-Cats.

[19] Nadia runs an online clothing store called The Connection with her sister and is also the creative director of her own brand, Henne.

[22] The couple announced their separation in August 2019 after it was revealed that Jimmy was in a long-term relationship with another woman, Lauren Mand.

[30] In 2016, Bartel grew out his facial hair for a full AFL season in order to raise money for domestic violence.