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Mark Tandy (Yarraville & South Melbourne)
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| Mark
Tandy played his early football at Yarraville
as a wingman, a role he also occupied for much of his time at South.
His contribution to the club's 1918 grand final defeat of Collingwood
was significant and decisive, as it was he who made the surging run down
the wing culminating in a kick to the goal square which enabled Chris
Laird to soccer the winning goal.
While with South, Tandy found himself saddled with the inglorious nickname 'Napper', which apparently arose because of his alleged propensity for 'switching off' during games. At one stage in his career he roved to the famous Roy Cazaly-Fred Fleiter ruck combination, with Cazaly recalling that he often needed to 'gee' Tandy up in order to prevent him drifting out of the game. Nevertheless, Cazaly regarded Mark Tandy as the finest rover he ever saw. In 1923, just as people were beginning to suggest that he ought to think of hanging up his boots, Tandy suddenly tapped into the richest vein of form of his career. He was chosen to represent the Big V that year, and again at the following year's Hobart carnival. All told, he made 13 appearances for the VFL, and had amassed a total of 207 league games by the time he retired in 1926. In August 2003, Mark Tandy's reputation was enhanced when he was selected in Sydney's official 'Team of the 20th Century'. |
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Xavier Tanner (North Melbourne & Melbourne)
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| Recruited from Wodonga, Xavier Tanner gave North Melbourne precisely 100 VFL games of high quality service, mainly as a centreman, between 1976 and 1983. He boasted plenty of pace and courage, and his distribution skills were first rate. He was a fine player for the Kangas in the drawn grand final of 1977 against Collingwood, and more particularly in the replay, which North won. In 1984 he crossed to Melbourne, linking up once more with Ron Barassi, who had coached the 'Roos between 1973 and 1980, but managed just 11 games in two years before calling it a day. |
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Albert Tapping (North Adelaide, South Fremantle, Port Adelaide)
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| A powerful, bullocking footballer who
was capable of playing more or less anywhere, Bert Tapping commenced his
league career with a brief stint at North
Adelaide, but it was during his second stint with South Fremantle,
where he initially played in 1912, that his impact was most marked.
That second stint took place in 1914, after a season spent at Port
Adelaide, where his 10 senior appearances included the winning grand
final against his former club, North Adelaide, and the championship
of Australia trouncing of Fitzroy.
It was only after returning to South Fremantle the following year that the
full extent of his talent emerged, however.
Midway through the season he was included in Western
Australia's squad for the Sydney
carnival, and ended up playing in all 5
of the state's matches. In the narrow loss to the VFL he was many
observer's choice as the best player afield, and he ended up winning a commemorative
Medal, donated by 'The Referee' newspaper, as his state's top player in
the series. Amply demonstrating his versatility, Tapping played
successfully in three different positions during the carnival, and when he
returned home he was being widely touted as a likely future champion. At
the end of the season he augmented his reputation still further when a
series of strong performances helped South Fremantle reach the first
premiership play-off in the club's history, but local arch-rivals East
Fremantle proved too strong.
Sadly, that was as good as it would get for Bert Tapping. Over the next few years he rapidly gained weight to such an extent that his effectiveness as a league footballer was completely eradicated. Indeed, after 1914 he played just 1 further league match - and that was not until 1928 - taking his final tally of games with South to a miserly 27. It could, and should, have been many more, but Bert Tapping's career provides a stark reminder that success in top level sport derives at least as much from an individual's mental fortitude as it does from raw physical ability. |
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| Known somewhat lamely as 'Spudda', Geelong's Syd Tate was a powerful and pacy wingman who knew how to take care of himself, and loved to go on a run with the ball. His disposal skills were excellent, over both long and short distances. Tate was on a wing, and contributed a goal, when the Cats won the 1951 grand final against Essendon. Originally from Yallourn, he played 85 VFL games and kicked 13 goals between 1947 and 1951. |
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| Recognised as the finest full back in South Australia for many years, Arthur 'Footy' Taylor occupied that position in a total of 13 interstate teams, and was one of the stars of the 1911 Adelaide carnival. During what was a predominantly unremarkable era for his club, West Torrens, Taylor was a model of consistency, allying sound technique with irrepressible determination and vigour, and treating each goal kicked against him as a personal insult. After his retirement as a player he was made a life member of the club. |
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Brian Taylor (Richmond, Collingwood, Prahran)
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| Originally
from Mandurah in Western Australia, full forward Brian Taylor was
recruited by Richmond without ever having
played league football in his home state. Usually referred to either
as 'Barge', owing to his formidable 191cm, 91kg frame, or 'BT', he was
signally unfortunate in that the Tigers already had a top quality full
forward in Michael
Roach who remained ahead of him in the pecking order throughout his
five season stint at Punt Road. Between 1980 and 1984 Taylor played
just 43 senior games, kicking 156 goals. He was not selected in
either of Richmond's grand final teams (in 1980 and 1982) during that
period. He did, however, manage to top the Tigers' goal kicking list
with 61 goals in his last season with the club.
In 1985, Taylor crossed to Collingwood, where for a time he became something of a cult hero. He played 97 games in six seasons with the Magpies, heading their goal kicking list every year but the last. His tally of precisely 100 goals in 1986 made him the VFL's top goal kicker that year, and overall he kicked 371 goals for Collingwood. In 1986 West Australian football fans at Subiaco Oval were presented with the farcical sight of Taylor lining up for Victoria against his home state in a so-called state of origin match. He performed well, too, but his tally of 4.2 for the match was not enough to get the Victorians over the line as the home state won by 3 points. A combination of knee problems and coach Leigh Matthews' desire to operate with a more mobile forward line limited Taylor's senior appearances in 1990, a season which ultimately saw the Magpies win the premiership. Taylor left the club at the end of that season - somewhat acrimoniously, it must be said - and took up the role of playing coach at Prahran in the VFA. In 1992 he led the side to a 3rd place finish, its best result for many years. He also continued to perform well as a player, kicking 16 goals - a personal record - in one match against Oakleigh. |
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Don Taylor (West Adelaide & Glenelg)
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| Described
by Paul Depasquale as "one of those footballers who could hold his
form no matter how celebrated the opposition" (see
footnote 1), Don Taylor gave fine service to West
Adelaide, West Adelaide-Glenelg and Glenelg
in 135 SANFL games between 1939 and 1954. He also played 9 state
games for South Australia. Much of his best football
was played across half back, although he could also take a turn on the
ball. His form peaked during his time at the Bay and he won
Glenelg's best and fairest award on two occasions.
Taylor spent the 1965 season as non-playing coach of West Adelaide but endured a terrible time as the side slumped to 9th position on the ladder, technically their worst return up to that point. |
Footnotes1. The Pash Papers by Jeff Pash, page 204. Return to Main Text |
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Jim Taylor (South Melbourne & Norwood)
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| Pacy, strong and versatile, Jim Taylor was a superb player for South Melbourne in 153 VFL games between 1949 and 1954 and from 1956 to 1961. In between he spent a season with Norwood where he played 13 SANFL games , including the losing grand final against Port Adelaide, when he was the Redlegs' best player. With South he played mostly as a ruckman or centre half back, although he could turn his hand to most positions when needed. Originally from amateur club Caulfield Grammarians, he had a tremendous leap and was unusually nimble for a big man. He won the club's best and fairest award in 1953 and 1957. His 13 interstate appearances for the VFL included games at the 1961 Brisbane carnival. He also played 4 interstate matches for South Australia. |
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John Taylor (West Adelaide & Glenelg)
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| The
son of former Port Adelaide footballer Johnny Taylor senior, a member of
the Magpies' famous unbeaten 1914 combination, Johnny Taylor junior
naturally wished to follow in his father's footsteps. However, along
with brothers Don and Laurie, he was residentially bound to West
Adelaide, which was where he ended up spending the majority of his seventeen season
league career. He made his debut with West as a seventeen year old in 1936,
playing as a ruck shepherd in support of Colin
Smith. The role of
ruck shepherd was later outlawed, but for Johnny Taylor, surviving his
induction to league football in the position was a key to his developing
into one of the toughest and hardiest footballers ever seen in the
SANFL. During his career he received a total of 48 stitches in
facial wounds, and was concussed 14 times. "At the end I felt
that if someone blew on me I would be concussed again," he said when
his career was over (see footnote 1).
He was renowned for playing on in spite of injury, and on one notable
occasion he captained South Australia in Perth despite having sustained
cracked ribs in a club game the previous weekend. The injury
produced internal bleeding, and Taylor was constantly coughing up blood,
but by sucking on ice cubes during intervals in the play he was able to
quell the bleeding temporarily.
In 1939, Taylor experienced the great thrill of playing in the same West Adelaide league team as his brothers. Over the years, all three brothers would give the red and blacks sterling service, but when the side broke through for a flag in 1947, only Johnny played, as Don was with South Melbourne, and Laurie with Richmond. Johnny Taylor actually skippered the side in 1947, and the following year he took over from Gordon Scott as coach. After a couple of years as captain-coach of West, Taylor crossed to Glenelg, where he undertook the same role. With his brothers alongside him in the team, the Tigers quickly went from being perennial also-rans into a genuine premiership threat. In his first season at the helm they reached the grand final, only to lose to Norwood. The side enjoyed another good year in 1951, finishing 3rd, but after a slump to 5th place the following year, Johnny Taylor was replaced as coach by Pat Hall. His 55 games at the Bay took his final career tally to 258 and made him the first SANFL player to pass the 250 game mark. He also represented South Australia on 5 occasions. |
Footnotes1. Blood, Sweat and Tears by Merv Agars, page 54. Return to Main Text |
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Michael Taylor (Norwood, Collingwood, West Adelaide)
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| Michael
Taylor was a pivotal figure in Norwood's
re-emergence as a league power during the mid-1970s. Hailing from
Kingston in the south-east of South Australia, he made his
senior debut in 1972, winning the first of an eventual six club best and
fairest awards (a Norwood record shared with Walter
Scott) the following year. In 1975 he was in a back pocket -
his favoured position early in his career - as the Redlegs ended a twenty-five year
premiership drought by beating Glenelg by 2
goals in the grand final. Three years later, Norwood won another
flag, with centreman Taylor skippering the side to a heart-stopping 1
point grand final win over Sturt (click here
for a detailed match review). In the opinion of many, he was the game's
pre-eminent player that day.
Michael Taylor - known as 'Kingo' after his home town - captained the Redlegs from 1978 to 1980, winning club best and fairest awards every year, and in 1981 he became one of several high-priced recruits to join Collingwood. Playing mainly in the back pocket, he gave the Magpies excellent service in 92 VFL games over the ensuing four years. He returned to Norwood in 1985 with plenty of good football still left in him and carried on for three further seasons to take his final tally of SANFL games to 289. He also played 13 times for South Australia. After cutting his coaching teeth with Collingwood reserves and as an assistant to Graham Cornes at Adelaide, Taylor was appointed senior coach of West Adelaide in 1996. In five seasons at the helm he steered the Bloods to finals qualification twice. When Norwood announced its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' few if any people were surprised to see Michael Taylor lining up in a back pocket. |
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| Neil Taylor was an inspirational player who served as Subiaco captain in six of his fifteen league seasons, including the premiership year of 1986. Equally at home as a wingman or on the ball, he won the Lions' fairest and best award on a couple of occasions, and was one of the primary reasons behind his club's re-emergence as a WAFL force during the mid-1980s. Taylor played a club record 260 senior games for Subiaco between 1975 and 1989. His style of play was perhaps ideally suited to the VFL, but he remained loyal to the Lions. |
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Richard Taylor (Melbourne & North Melbourne)
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| A perennial VFL interstate representative, Dick Taylor was almost universally acknowledged as one of the most accomplished centremen, or indeed players, of his era. He began with Melbourne in 1922, and was a key member of the 1926 challenge final victory over Collingwood. After ten seasons with the Fuchsias he transferred to North Melbourne where he served as captain in 1932-3-4, and as coach for part of 1932, the whole of 1933, and the first half of 1934. He returned to Melbourne for one final season at the top level in 1935. Lithe, elusive and tricky, his use of the ball was impeccable, and when playing in the centre his understanding with his wingmen was first rate. He ended his fourteen season VFL career with 207 games to his credit, all but 40 of which were with Melbourne. |
| A strong, determined, pacy footballer who disposed of the ball immaculately, Wyburn Taylor made his league debut with East Fremantle in 1929, although he did not become a regular member of the senior team until 1931. A rover in that year's winning grand final team against Subiaco, he was on a wing in the play-off of two years later when the Maroons were again vanquished. In 1936 he spent a season as captain-coach of Mines Rovers in the GNFL. He proved to be a stunning success, for not only did he steer the Diorites to a premiership, he won the Dillon Medal for the fairest and best player in the competition. Returning to Old Easts in 1937 he was 19th man in that year's grand final-winning team against Claremont. Taylor went on to play three further seasons of league football for a career total of 136 games. He also played twice for Western Australia. |
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Graham Teasdale (Richmond, South Melbourne, Collingwood)
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| A forward during his 6 games with Richmond in 1973 and for the first two seasons of his South Melbourne career (see footnote 1), Graham Teasdale was thrown into the ruck in 1977 to spectacular effect, winning both that year's Brownlow Medal and club best and fairest award. Thereafter, he never quite recaptured the same level of performance, but he remained a key contributor to the South cause, and when he sought a transfer to Collingwood in 1982 the club was, understandably, reluctant to clear him. After standing out of football for several months, however, Teasdale finally got his way, but his time with the Magpies was effectively ruined by injury. In a season and a half at the club he managed just 14 games and 21 goals to add to the 125 games and 138 goals he had played with the Swans. At his best, Graham Teasdale's aerial brilliance and prodigious kicking made him one of the game's most exciting talents, but he produced his best form too intermittently to be regarded as a true champion. |
Footnotes1. Teasdale did not manage a senior game with Richmond in 1974, crossing to South Melbourne, in exchange for John Pitura, at the end of that season. Return to Main Text |
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Noel Teasdale (North Melbourne, Woodville, West Torrens)
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| An
energetic, bullocking ruckman and occasional defender, Noel Teasdale was
one of the most noteworthy identities in the history of the North
Melbourne Football Club. Recruited from Daylesford, he played a
total of 178 VFL games for the 'Roos between 1956 and 1967, kicking 71
goals. A clear indication of his class is that he also represented
the VFL no fewer than 19 times in an era replete with top line
ruckmen. A clash of heads with team mate Ken Dean in 1964 produced a
serious head injury, and when 'Teaser' returned to the fray he was wearing
the padded head guard that was to become his trademark. The head
guard did nothing to undermine his effectiveness, however; in 1965 he
finished runner-up, on a countback, in the Brownlow
voting to St Kilda's Ian
Stewart (he was later awarded a retrospective Medal), and the following season saw him achieve All
Australian honours after the Hobart
carnival. Teasdale also won North's best and fairest award in
both years to make it an unprecedented four such wins in succession.
He captained the 'Roos from 1965-7.
In 1968 Noel Teasdale was appointed captain-coach of Woodville but his four seasons at the helm - the last of these in a non-playing capacity - produced an overall success rate of just 29.6%. On an individual note, however, Teasdale continued to perform with distinction as a player, adding a total of 47 SANFL games, winning the 'Peckers' best and fairest award in his debut season, and representing South Australia twice. In 1975-6 he returned to football as senior coach of West Torrens, but was unable to help the Eagles avoid the wooden spoon in both years. There would have been little surprise when, in 2003, it was announced that Noel Teasdale had been selected to lead the first ruck in the North Melbourne Kangaroos official 'Team of the Century'. |
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Dick Telford (Collingwood, Fitzroy, Preston)
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| A
talented all round sportsman, Dick Telford was unsure early on whether he
wanted to concentrate on football or baseball. He played reserves
football with Collingwood, but then quit in
order to concentrate on his baseball with Melbourne University.
After a short while, however, he decided that he preferred football, and
returned to the Magpies, for whom he managed a single senior VFL game in
1966 before being released to Fitzroy.
Things started off well at the Lions, and he made his senior debut in 1967
as a rover, but in only his second game he suffered a badly broken thumb
and did not play again that year. Given that he had performed quite
well in both his games, Telford felt confident of producing his best and
most consistent football so far in 1968, and so it proved - but it was not
to be with Fitzroy. At the end of the 1967 season the Lions
surprisingly told him that his services were no longer required, and he
ended up transferring to VFA side Preston.
After a game with the seconds, he made his senior debut in round 5, and,
playing mainly in the centre, went on to enjoy a superb season, winning
the Liston Trophy by
5 votes from Oakleigh's Norm Luff. He
also won the first of two Bullants best and fairest awards. The
highlight of Telford's debut year with Preston, however, was his
participation in the side's 15.8 (98) to 12.12 (84) 1st division grand
final defeat of Prahran, when he was one of the
best players on view. When the Bullants went back to back in 1969
thanks to a 12.11 (83) to 10.11 (71) grand final win over Dandenong,
he had no fewer than 32 kicks to be best afield.
Owing to pressures of work and study, Dick Telford retired in 1972, still aged just twenty-seven, after 68 VFA games. He later returned to Preston as non-playing coach in 1975 and spent two seasons in the role. |
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| Len Templar was a clever, free-roaming wingman who picked up plenty of possessions and loved to kick a goal. He played a total of 60 VFL games for North Melbourne between 1954 and 1957, booting 54 goals. One of his finest performances came in North's losing 1st semi final against Melbourne during his debut season, when he contributed 5 of his side's 11 goals for the match. |
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Jim Templeton (South Adelaide)
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| Jim Templeton was a forceful, aggressive and exuberant footballer who was exhilarating to watch when in full flight. He began his league career with South Adelaide in 1936, and two years later was in the team which humiliated Port Adelaide in the grand final by 44 points (match reviewed here). Equally at home anywhere across centre or on a half forward flank, he was often inspired to produce his best football when the going was at its most tempestuous. Templeton was a South Australian interstate representative on 5 occasions, kicking 2 goals. He continued playing with the Sturt-South Adelaide wartime combination from 1942 and 1944 and thereafter for four more seasons with South, the second of these as captain. When he retired he had played a total of 161 senior games. |
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Kelvin Templeton (Footscray & Melbourne)
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| When
he joined Footscray from Traralgon
in 1974 Kelvin Templeton was already a league footballer in all but
name. Possessing in substantial measure all the traditional skills
of the top class key position forward - quick and combative at ground
level, strong overhead, and a resplendent kick of the football over any
distance up to 60 metres - Templeton was idolised by Bulldog fans
throughout his nine season, 143 game career with the club. Those 143
games elicited 494 goals, including tallies of 118 in 1978 and 91 the
following year to top the VFL's goal kicking ladder. Templeton also
topped Footscray's goal kicking list in 1976-7 and 1980. His
greatest 'day out' came when Footscray kicked its record VFL score of
33.15 (213) against St Kilda in 1979,
with Templeton contributing 15.9.
Kelvin Templeton's best season in football was undoubtedly 1980 when he not only won his second Footscray best and fairest award but the Brownlow Medal as well, the latter achievement being comparatively rare for a key forward. A regular 'Big V' representative, Templeton played in both the 1979 and 1980 state of origin championship series. After captaining Footscray for the first time in 1982 Templeton was lured to Melbourne the following year in what was reputedly a big money transaction. Persistent niggling injuries undermined his effectiveness while with the Dees, but he still managed 99 goals in 34 games over two seasons, including 51 in 1984 to top Melbourne's list. After retiring as a player, Templeton worked for Sydney for a time as a skills coach. Templeton was named at centre half forward in the Bulldogs' official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
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| Max Tetley was a fine key position defender for West Perth in 210 WANFL games from 1931 to 1941. Born and raised in Fremantle, he played his early football in the Fremantle suburban competition, where he caught the eye of officials from East Fremantle, who asked him to train with them. In 1930 he even played for Old Easts in a challenge match against the Goldfields Football League in Kalgoorlie. However, in 1931 Tetley began working for a company which was run by the president of the West Perth Football Club, Alec Breckler, who arranged for him to be cleared to the Cardinals. An excellent long kick, safe mark, and a stylish mover, Tetley was a ready made league footballer who excelled from the start. He won West Perth's best first year player trophy in 1931, and the following year was a key member, at full back, of the club's first premiership team since 1905. Renowned as an inspirational leader, he assumed coaching duties at the club in 1938, and was captain as well in 1939 and 1940. He played in four premiership teams in all, and won the club's fairest and best trophy in 1932. He played 14 interstate matches for Western Australia, and was state captain 4 times, including both games at the 1937 Perth carnival. He also coached the state. In October 2000, Max Tetley was included on the interchange bench in West Perth's official 'Team of the Century'. |
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Billy Thomas (Port Adelaide & North Adelaide)
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| Unable to crack it for a regular senior game with Port Adelaide, Billy Thomas followed Jack McCarthy to North Adelaide when McCarthy went to the Roosters as coach in 1960. Having managed just 18 games in three seasons with the Magpies, Thomas became a regular with North, adding 108 league games, mainly as a rover, between 1960 and 1966. All told he managed the impressive tally (for a rover) of 236 goals, which entailed topping the Roosters' goal kicking list on no fewer than five occasions. Thomas was first rover in North's 1960 premiership team. He represented South Australia 4 times, kicking 2 goals. |
| Doug Thomas played 218 games and kicked 110 goals for West Adelaide between 1951 and 1957 and from 1961 to 1965, spending the interim time as captain-coach of Wimmera Football League side Dimboola, whom he steered to a rare premiership success in 1959. He made his name as a dour, close-checking full back, but later put some of the knowledge gained to paradoxically good use as a full forward. Thomas captain-coached Westies in 1963 and 1964 and was skipper under Don Taylor in 1965. He played 5 times for South Australia, kicking 6 goals. After his retirement as a player he embarked on a lifelong administrative and managerial career with the club. |
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Edward Thomas (Oakleigh & Melbourne)
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| Ted
Thomas was a superb half back flank specialist who began his senior career
with Oakleigh after the First World War before
being signed by Melbourne in 1921. Since
winning their only VFL pennant in 1900, the Redlegs had persistently
under-achieved, and this pattern continued during Thomas' first four
seasons at the club. In 1925, however, Bert
Chadwick took over as coach, sparking an immediate improvement:
Melbourne reached the finals that season for the first time in a decade,
and the following year upset the odds with a storming 17.17 (119) to 9.8
(62) challenge final defeat of Collingwood.
Playing in his usual spot on a half back flank, Thomas was a key
contributor to the win.
In 1930-31, he was a member of two more premiership sides, this time back at Oakleigh, where he played between 1929 and 1931. His final season in league football came at Melbourne in 1932, bringing his final tally of VFL games to 104 in 9 seasons. |
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Keith Thomas (Norwood & Fitzroy)
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| Keith Thomas' career tally of precisely 300 league games between 1979 and 1986 and from 1989 to 1992 puts him third on Norwood's all time list, behind only Michael Aish (307) and Garry McIntosh (371), and he loses nothing in comparison with those, or indeed any other luminaries, in the club's illustrious history. Quick, nimble and deadly near goal, Thomas' style bore numerous similarities to that of another modern day great, former Port Adelaide and Carlton champion Craig Bradley. A member of Norwood premiership teams in 1982 against Glenelg and two years later against Port Adelaide, he was the recipient after the latter grand final of the Jack Oatey Medal for best afield. A club best and fairest winner in 1985, Keith Thomas represented his state on five occasions, and was named on the interchange bench in the Redlegs' official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. He spent the 1987 and 1988 seasons with Fitzroy in the VFL, where he played 28 games and kicked 15 goals. |
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Len Thomas (South Melbourne, Hawthorn, North Melbourne)
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| Powerful,
fleet of foot, and possessing all the essential skills of the game, Len
Thomas was without doubt one of the best all round VFL footballers of the
1930s. He actually began with South
Melbourne in 1927, but it was during the 1930s that he arrived at a
peak of excellence which was maintained throughout most of the
decade. Winner of South's best and fairest award in 1931 and 1938,
he was a significant contributor from the centre when the red and whites
thrashed Richmond in the 1933 grand
final. Thomas crossed to Hawthorn
as captain-coach in 1939, but the Mayblooms had a poor season, and
finished 10th. The 1940 season saw him at North
Melbourne, once again as captain-coach, but after a disastrous year
which produced just 4 wins and the wooden spoon, Thomas retired from
football and embarked on military service. Tragically, he was to
meet his end while serving his country abroad.
Len Thomas played a total of 208 VFL games, and represented the VFL in the interstate arena on half a dozen occasions. He came from a footballing background, with his father, 'Sonna' Thomas having enjoyed a noteworthy VFL career with South Melbourne and Richmond. |
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Richard Thomas (East Perth & Essendon)
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| A quintessential no nonsense, hard as nails defender, Ritchie Thomas was a key member of East Perth teams on either side of World War Two. The son of the Royals' 1925 Sandover Medallist, William 'Digger' Thomas, he shared his father's almost fanatical dedication to physical fitness, and indeed was widely acknowledged as one of the fittest players going around throughout his twelve season, 211 game league career, which included 4 games for Essendon during a wartime posting to Melbourne. Thomas made his senior debut in 1933, and was on a half back flank three years later when East Perth overcame both the grand final challenge of Claremont, and the weight of popular public sentiment, in a tensely fought grand final. A stay at home backman of the old school (he managed only 2 goals during his entire league career), Thomas produced much of his best football at centre half back, where he combined considerable strength overhead with perhaps surprising adeptness at ground level, all laced with the trademark Thomas aggression and never-say-die spirit. Winner of the Royals' fairest and best award in 1939 (jointly with Dave Miller) and 1940, Ritchie Thomas played interstate football for Western Australia on 4 occasions, and might perhaps be considered slightly unfortunate to have failed to achieve selection in both of East Perth's official 'Teams of the Century'. |
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William Thomas (North Adelaide)
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| Billy Thomas was a gutsy and highly effective rover who was a key member of North Adelaide's 1930 challenge final winning team against Port Adelaide, earning nomination high on the list of his team's best players. He played precisely 100 senior games for the red and whites, and represented South Australia 4 times, including games at the 1927 Melbourne carnival. |
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William 'Billy' Thomas (Kalgoorlie City & East Perth)
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| Originally from Geraldton, 'Billy' Thomas played senior football with Kalgoorlie City in 1925 and 1926 before transferring to East Perth in 1927. A premiership player in his debut season with the Royals, he impressed observers with his pace and cleverness as well as the accuracy of his disposal. In 1928 and 1929, playing mainly as a rover, he won East Perth's fairest and best award, adding the 1929 Sandover Medal for good measure. Always dangerous when resting in a forward pocket, he topped the Royals' goal kicking list in 1931 with 30 goals, and overall amassed 169 goals in 114 senior appearances spread over ten seasons. Thomas made his interstate debut for Western Australia and went on to play a total of 9 state matches, including all 5 games at the 1930 Adelaide carnival. Like his namesake 'Digger', William 'Billy' Thomas achieved selection in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1906 to 1944'. |
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William 'Digger' Thomas (Warriors, Subiaco, East Fremantle, East Perth, Paddington)
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| Broken
Hill-born 'Digger'
Thomas began his senior football career with Goldfields Football League
side Warriors. In 1910 he was a member of a star-studded goldfields
representative side which defeated Port
Adelaide, and the following season
he ventured to the coast to throw in his lot with Subiaco.
A superb aerialist, Thomas earned much respect and admiration for his
fairness, and so it was something of a shock when he was suspended for six
months late in the 1912 season after being charged with striking in a
match against South Fremantle.
The suspension forced him out of the Maroons' inaugural league premiership
side that year, but he made amends in 1913 when he was a driving force in
the centre as the club went 'back to back'.
Thomas' excellent form continued in 1914, and he was named in Western Australia's team for the Sydney carnival. Records from the carnival are somewhat sketchy, but he is known to have kicked 14 of his team's 33 goals in the game against Queensland. Unfortunately, West Australia's goal kickers in the 29.14 (188) to 12.8 (80) defeat of Tasmania, and the 23.24 (162) to 8.10 (58) win over New South Wales are unknown, but it would seem reasonable to assume that 'Digger' Thomas was one of the leading goal kickers of the championships. After 32 games with Subiaco, Thomas transferred to East Fremantle, where he played 17 games in 1917. He then joined East Perth, where he went on to enjoy the greatest success of his career. A member of premiership teams in 1919-20-21-22-23 and 1927, his individual brilliance was recognised in 1923 when, aged thirty-three, he became East Perth's first ever Sandover Medal winner. His interstate exploits continued as well, and he was a key member of Western Australia's winning 1921 carnival side in Perth, and was still part of the team three years later in Hobart. Later in the 1924 season he headed east, initially to Sydney, where he coached Paddington during what proved to be the club's 7th and last premiership year prior to its merger in 1926 with East Sydney. Thomas then moved to Melbourne where he endeavoured to obtain a clearance to Richmond, but when this was not forthcoming he returned to East Perth. When he retired in 1928, 'Digger' Thomas had played 177 league games for the Royals for an overall career total of 226. He played a dozen state games for Western Australia. In June 2006 he was named in the centre in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1906 to 1944'. His son, Ritchie Thomas, was a great defender with East Perth during the 1930s and '40s. |
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William 'Sonna' Thomas (South Melbourne & Richmond)
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| Regarded as one of the best and most consistent defenders of his era, William 'Sonna' Thomas gave sterling service to two league clubs over the course of career that lasted the better part of fifteen seasons, and saw him play in excess of 200 top level games. He commenced in the VFL in 1905 with South Melbourne, and after taking some time to establish himself developed into a mainstay of the team that went on to win its first premiership in nineteen years in 1909. During that year's final series he held down centre half back with great conviction and authority, and his contribution to the flag win was unsurpassed. In the challenge final against Carlton (reviewed here) he capped a near best afield performance with a last minute saving mark which ensured that South held on to record a memorable win by just 2 points. Thomas captain-coached the southerners to 3rd place in both 1910 and 1911, and his 4 interstate appearances for the VFL included a game as captain against South Australia in 1913. In 1914, after 135 games and 2 goals for South, he crossed to Richmond where he was promptly appointed captain. He spent five and a half seasons with the Tigers, adding another 62 games and 3 goals, and in the process helping them to emerge as a genuine VFL force for the first time. Bill Thomas might feasibly have still been around when the team broke through for its first VFL flag in 1920 but a dual leg fracture sustained a year earlier ended his career. His son, Len Thomas, was a successful league footballer with three different clubs during the 1920s and '30s. |
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Clayton Thompson (Sturt & Hawthorn)
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| Known as 'Candles', Clayton Thompson was a gangly giant of a forward-ruckman who marked and kicked well and was deceptively mobile. He played 151 SANFL games for Sturt in two stints from 1948 to 1953 and between 1957 and 1961, kicking 236 goals, and topping the club's goal kicking list on three occasions. He also won the club's best and fairest award twice. After impressing at the 1953 Adelaide carnival when he was the top goal kicker with 17 goals and achieved All Australian selection, Thompson was signed by Hawthorn. In three seasons with the Hawks, playing mainly as a forward, he racked up 50 VFL games and booted 54 goals. On his return to Sturt he was given a license to roam as a ruckman and produced some of the best football of his career. He was a hot favourite to win the 1959 Magarey Medal, but finished runner-up to team mate Len Fitzgerald. His interstate career comprised 11 appearances for South Australia, which netted him 25 goals. |
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Colin Thompson (West Adelaide)
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| Colin
Thompson made his league debut with West
Adelaide in 1962. At the end of that season he was the team's
1st ruckman in a 3 point grand final loss to Port
Adelaide. It was West's sixth grand final appearance in nine
seasons, and Thompson could have been forgiven for imagining that he would
have many more opportunities to participate in a premiership.
However, over the remainder of his twelve season, 201 game SANFL
career, the closest Thompson came to enjoying the thrill of a flag was a
preliminary final loss to Glenelg in 1969.
A ruckman for the majority of his career, Thompson was transformed into a defender after Murray Weidemann took over as coach in 1968. He performed well against resting ruckmen and bigger full forwards like North Adelaide's Dennis Sachse, but he was sometimes found wanting against fast leaders like Malcolm Greenslade and 'Freddy' Phillis. Overall, however, he played some of his best and most consistent football late in his career when the responsibility of being one of the team's on field leaders elicited enhanced dedication and commitment. In his very last season, anxious to break the 200 game barrier, "I ran faster at training.......than at any stage of my career" (see footnote 1). Once he reached the milestone he was playing so well he could easily have continued, but he opted instead to take up a coaching appointment with Central Augusta. |
Footnotes1. Bloods, Sweat And Tears by Merv Agars, page 68. Return to Main Text |
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Len Thompson (Collingwood, South Melbourne, Fitzroy, Preston)
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| Great
though he undoubtedly was, and as much as he accomplished, one sometimes
got the impression that Len Thompson could have achieved almost anything
he wanted out of the game had his self belief equalled his ability, or had
he enjoyed at least his fair share of the rub of the green.
Combining physical enormity (200cm, 95.5kg) with tremendous athleticism, Thompson
sometimes ruled the ruck contests as though he owned them, whilst
simultaneously providing Collingwood with a
formidable around the ground presence. The Magpies recruited
Thompson from North Reservoir after he had initially been rejected by Essendon,
a club which, ironically, would end up struggling in the ruck for much of Thompson's
career. Len Thompson played a total of 272 VFL games and booted 217
goals for the 'Woods between 1965 and 1978, winning the club's best and
fairest award a record 5 times, as well as securing the 1972 Brownlow
Medal. He later played briefly for both South
Melbourne (20 games and 39 goals in 1979) and Fitzroy
(13 games, 19 goals, 1980), but his name will forever be synonymous with
Collingwood. Undoubtedly the biggest disappointment of Len
Thompson's auspicious, sixteen season, 305 game VFL career was his failure
to play in a single premiership team, despite appearing in four grand
finals. He was a regular 'Big V' interstate representative, and
achieved All Australian
selection after the 1972 Perth carnival.
In 1989, Thompson served as coach of Preston in the VFA, but the side's 9-9 record was not good enough for it to make the finals. When Collingwood selected its official 'Team of the Twentieth Century' Len Thompson was a 'shoe-in' choice to lead the first ruck. In September 2007 he sadly passed away, aged sixty, after suffering a heart attack. |
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Mark Thompson (Essendon & Geelong)
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| Popularly
known as 'Bomber', Mark Thompson was a highly dependable performer for Essendon
in 202 V/AFL games from 1983 to 1996. A dual club best and fairest
winner, he played most of his football as an attacking half back flanker
who provided plenty of rebound without neglecting his defensive
duties. Always a popular figure at Windy Hill, he was appointed club
captain in 1992, and led the Bombers to the 1993 premiership.
'Bomber' Thompson was appointed coach of Geelong in 2000 and got the club to the finals in his first season. Three disappointing years followed before the Cats emerged as a genuine premiership threat in 2004, ultimately finishing 4th. In 2005 they more or less marked time and ended up in 5th position after the finals, before under-achieving quite dramatically in 2006 and slumping to 10th. In 2007, however, things came together in as near perfect a way as is probably possible in modern professional sport, and the Cats claimed their first flag since 1963 in resoundingly emphatic fashion. 'Bomber' Thompson thus became only the seventh man in V/AFL history to achieve premiership success as both a captain and a non-playing coach. |
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Jim Thoms (Footscray & West Torrens)
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| Jim Thoms was a top quality all round sportsman who, in addition to his prowess as a footballer, was a fine grade cricketer, and an excellent table tennis player who won the Australian championship in 1936. Most of his senior football career was spent with Footscray, where he commenced in 1937. A clever, speedy and elusive rover, he earned VFL interstate representation in 1941 and again in his final league season five years later. He spent the 1945 season with West Torrens, was first rover that year in the club's 15.25 (115) to 15.12 (102) grand final defeat of Port Adelaide. His VFL career comprised 120 senior games and 101 goals. |
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Vic Thorp (Richmond & Prahran)
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| Dual
Champion of the Colony
(1916 and 1919) Vic 'Flippa' Thorp was arguably the greatest player produced by Richmond
during the first two decades of the club's involvement in the VFL.
He was also, in the view of some, the finest full back the game has seen,
in which position, needless to say, he was selected in Richmond's official
'Team of the Century'. It is more than a touch surprising
therefore, to learn that the VFL's interstate selectors did not see fit to
include Thorp in an official state team until 1919, his tenth league
season.
Combining pace, great anticipation, courage, mental strength, agility and superb aerial prowess, Thorp was by no means a typical VFL full back, and would probably have been equally successful had he played as a centreman, half back, or half forward. It was not merely the fact that he was effective that made him a great player, it was the fact that he was effective with style. 'Dick' Lee, undoubtedly the greatest VFL full forward of Thorp's era, had no doubt whatsoever that the Richmond champion was far and away the finest full back of them all, with his admiration doubtless enhanced by the fact that Thorp never resorted to foul means in order to beat his man. A key player in Richmond's breakthrough VFL premiership wins of 1920-21, Vic Thorp was the club's best and fairest winner in 1924, making him one of the earliest known recipients of the award. He continued with the Tigers until early in the 1925 season when, after 261 VFL games, he crossed to Prahran in the VFA where he played under the coaching of former South Melbourne and Footscray champion Jack Howell. Thorp spent much of his time with the Two Blues as a forward, topping the club's goal kicking list in 1925 with 30 goals. |
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David Thorpe (Footscray, Richmond, Yarraville, Port Melbourne)
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| Highly skilled, courageous and purposeful, David Thorpe was among the finest centremen in the VFL during an era replete with top quality denizens of that position. He joined Footscray from North Footscray, and made his league debut in 1965, winning a best and fairest award three years later en route to a career total of 151 games with the Bulldogs over nine seasons. He also booted 79 goals. A VFL representative every year from 1969 to 1972, Thorpe was included in the All Australian team selected after the 1972 Perth carnival. In 1974 he transferred to Richmond and was in the centre as the Tigers downed North Melbourne in that season's grand final. In three seasons at Punt Road Thorpe added 27 games and 24 goals. The 1977 season saw him at Yarraville as captain-coach and he promptly took the 1976 2nd division wooden spooner to a grand final meeting with Mordialloc, which was ultimately lost by 38 points after a closely fought first three quarters. Thorpe spent one further season with the Eagles, steering them to 4th spot on the division two ladder, before finishing his playing career with half a dozen games for Port Melbourne in 1979. |
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Albert Thurgood (Essendon & Fremantle)
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|
'Albert the Great', as he was known, was an all round football champion of the highest order, and arguably the game's first true 'superstar'. In Western Australia, he played with the famous Fremantle club during a time when it arguably boasted the strongest team in the land. During his stint there he topped the WAFA goal kicking list on three consecutive occasions between 1895 and 1897, helping the side lift premierships in the first two of those years. "Tall and magnificently built, Thurgood could play in any position on the ground and was extraordinarily fast. It was said that he could run 100 yards in even time. His high marking was superb, his ground work robust, and he was said to be as nimble and agile as a hare. Like a true champion he rarely had an off day and he could kick brilliantly with every type of kick imaginable." (See footnote 1) Thurgood originally played football at Brighton Grammar School before joining Essendon in 1892. He went on to help the Same Old lift the next three VFA premierships (making it four in succession all told). Voted Champion of the Colony in 1893, 1894 and 1901, he won Essendon's best and fairest award in 1901, and was the leading goal kicker in the VFA three times and in the VFL once. He kicked 181 goals in three VFA seasons with Essendon, during which he would have played a maximum of 57 games. In just under five seasons in the VFL he played 46 games, booting 89 goals. He was particularly renowned for his prodigious kicking, being recorded on one occasion as producing a place kick of 98.48 metres, or 107 yards 2 feet 1 inch. One of his drop kicks was allegedly measured at 82.3 metres, or 90 yards. In 1902 there were widespread allegations that Thurgood had 'laid down' against Collingwood in the challenge final, which Essendon lost by the heavy margin for the time of 33 points. In disgust, he demanded, and was refused, a clearance to the Magpies, whereupon he decided to retire. He was tempted back to Essendon four years later, but after playing 8 games he was forced to retire permanently when he sustained a serious ankle injury. |
Footnotes1. The Encyclopedia of League Footballers by Jim Main and Russell Holmesby, page 436. Return to Main Text |
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John Tidswell (North Adelaide)
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| Having
progressed steadily through the junior ranks at the club, John Tidswell
made his senior league debut for North
Adelaide in 1949. At the end of his first season he was
nineteenth man
in the grand final as the red and whites downed West
Torrens by 23 points. When North next reached the decisive match
of the year two seasons later, Tidswell put in a stirring four quarter
performance in the ruck, but could not prevent his team from going down to
Port Adelaide by 11 points. He made
amends the following year, however, as he helped his team mates to a
record 108 point grand final annihilation of Norwood.
A ruckman for most of his ten season, 162 game league career, John Tidswell's biggest assets were his prodigious leap and the extraordinary accuracy of his palming. He was also an excellent high mark, boasted good judgment, and was a reliable kick, enabling him to perform effectively in a key position when required. Indeed, many of his finest games, particularly later in his career, were played at either centre half back or full back. After retiring from league football, he coached for a time in the South Australian amateur competition. |
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James Tierney (West Adelaide, West Torrens, South Adelaide, North Adelaide)
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| Despite looking old enough, even during the early stages of his career, to have fathered many of his fellow players (indeed, towards the end of that career, he gloried in the nickname 'Dad'), James 'Sorry' Tierney possessed formidable talent. He won a Magarey Medal in 1908, and formed a highly effective partnership for a time with Tom Leahy during West Adelaide's rapid emergence as a power in 1908 and 1909. He had first played with West in 1901 and 1902, and then spent the first part of the 1903 season with West Torrens and the second part in Broken Hill, before returning to the red and blacks in 1904. In 1905 he was on the move again, this time to South Adelaide, where he remained until 5 games into the 1906 season, when West again benefitted from his services. He finished his league career in 1911 by renewing his partnership with Leahy, this time at North Adelaide. Tierney represented South Australia on 9 occasions. |
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| A talented and creative wingman or half forward flanker, Ken Tierney was in and out of the Port Adelaide team throughout his ten season league career, during which time he played a total of 160 games. The problem was not that he lacked ability - far from it - but that his game was centered on crisp, short, accurate foot passing, in total contrast to the trademark long kicking approach favoured by coach Fos Williams. Had Tierney played at virtually any other SANFL club, he would probably have retired with in excess of 200 senior games to his credit, plus a couple of best and fairest awards, but he chose to remain loyal to Port. He made his league debut in 1954, and at the end of that season was on a wing in the Magpies' stirring 3 point grand final win over West Adelaide. He later also played in the club's 1956, 1958 and 1959 premiership teams. At his best during the late 1950s, he represented South Australia at the 1958 Melbourne carnival, and played a total of 4 interstate games. Late in his career he twice sustained broken legs, but by playing a handful of games in 1963 he managed to qualify for life membership of the league on the grounds of having played more than 150 senior games over ten seasons. Tierney coached amateur league side Rosewater in 1964 before returning to Port as coach of the club's Seconds team in 1965. |
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Phil Tierney (East Perth & West Torrens)
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| Although
he tended to be overshadowed for much of his career by Subiaco's Austin
Robertson junior, Phil Tierney was a fine full forward in his own
right. He booted 620 goals in 190 games for East
Perth between 1962 and 1969 and from 1971 to 1972, heading the club's
list in 1965 (55 goals), 1967 (119), 1968 (106), 1969 (74) and 1971
(105). He also kicked 65 goals in 16 games to top West
Torrens' list in 1970. Perhaps surprisingly, given these totals,
only once, in 1967, was he the leading goal kicker in the competition in
which he was playing.
Phil Tierney's only interstate appearances came at the 1972 Perth carnival when he booted 11 goals in 3 games for a Western Australian side that ran second to the VFL. His final league game was the 1972 grand final in which East Perth met Claremont; lining up on a half forward flank, Tierney was kept goalless for one of the rare times in his career, but nevertheless had the satisfaction of heading into retirement with a premiership under his belt. In June 2006 Phil Tierney was named as full forward in East Perth's official 'Team of the Century 1945 to 2005'. |
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[Click to enlarge] |
| Originally from Risdon in Port Pirie, David Tiller enjoyed a brief but successful under-age career with North Adelaide before making his senior debut in 1977. A smooth running, creative half back flanker for most of his league career, he was a more or less permanent fixture in the Roosters' line-up for nearly fourteen years, during which time he played 290 SANFL games. He was voted the club's best and fairest player in 1981 and 1984, and served as captain from 1984 to 1986, but the unarguable highlight of his career was participation in the resounding 82 point grand final defeat of Glenelg in 1987. Quite astonishingly for a player of his calibre and impact, David Tiller never played interstate football. |
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| Eddie Tilley was a rare football character who gave fine service to Sturt in a war interrupted league career that began in 1939 and ended, 172 games and 54 goals later, in 1950. He also played 9 times for South Australia, including games at both the 1947 Hobart and 1950 Brisbane carnivals. Mercurial, highly skilled and adaptable, he suffered disappointment early in his career when he was suspended for the 1940 grand final against South Adelaide, which Sturt ended up winning. Tilley played his best football after the war, winning club best and fairest awards in 1947 and 1949. He was the Blues captain in 1948. He liked nothing better than to put on a show, and in one match against Norwood in 1948 caused a real stir by kicking a goal with a place kick. A few weeks later, he booted what, at the time, was a club record haul of 13.7 as Sturt trounced South Adelaide 22.22 (154) to 9.8 (62). In 1957, Eddie Tilley returned to Unley as the senior side's non-playing coach, but after a fairly promising debut season the wheels fell off spectacularly in 1958 as the Blues slumped to a distant last place. Perhaps not surprisingly, Tilley's services as coach were not retained for 1959, but on the basis of his all round contribution to the club, particularly as a player, he deserves to be remembered with esteem. |
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| Energetic, industrious and highly creative, Stephen Tingay was one of the best and most highly respected Melbourne footballers of the 1990s. Recruited from Shepparton, he made his VFL debut in 1989, and over the ensuing eleven seasons went on to play 162 games and kick 84 goals. His best season was 1994 when he finished second in Melbourne's best and fairest award and was chosen in the AFL All Australian team. In 2001, after being out of the game for a year with a hip injury, Tingay joined Sydney, but his injury problems persisted and he never played a senior game for the club. |
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Jack Titus (Richmond & Coburg)
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| Standing
just 175cm in height, and weighing in at a meagre 65.5kg, Richmond
forward Jack 'Skinny' Titus could scarcely be said to look like a league
footballer - until he took to the field. It was then that all of his
pace, poise and extraordinary nimbleness, both of body and of mind, came
to the fore. Like Kevin
Bartlett in later years, he was supremely adept at keeping his
lightweight frame out of trouble - or of earning free kicks on those rare
instances that his
incomparable skills of elusiveness failed him.
Nevertheless, he was often prevented from training on Tuesday evenings as
a result of knocks received on the preceding Saturday.
Recruited from Castlemaine in 1926, Titus played much of his early football on a half forward flank, before developing into one of the many highly accomplished full forwards to grace the VFL during the 1930s. When Richmond was a league power during the late 1920s and early 1930s, Titus was a prominent and influential figure. Among the best players on the ground as a half forward flanker in the Tigers' 1932 grand final defeat of Carlton, he was a near unanimous choice as best afield two years later when his 6 goals from full forward against South Melbourne effectively comprised the difference between the two teams. Although he was undoubtedly a very prolific goal kicker, as his overall tally of 970 goals in 294 VFL games (at a per match average of 3.29) clearly attests, Jack Titus' contribution to the team cause always went far beyond the kicking of goals, which may be why the VFL selectors turned to him so often (14 times in all) rather than his ostensibly more prolific counterparts. After retiring from football at the end of the 1943 season, Titus spent a year out of the game before making a one season comeback with Coburg in 1945. He immediately showed that he had lost none of his talent and nouse by booting 119 goals for the year to assist his new team to third place on the ladder. It was the second time Titus had topped the century; the first was five years earlier, when his tally of precisely 100 goals for Richmond had enabled him to top the VFL goal kicking list for the only time in his career. He was Richmond's top goal kicker eleven times, and won the club's 1941 best and fairest award. Sixty years after his last game for the Tigers 'Skinny' Titus was a predictable choice as full forward in the club's official 'Team of the 20th Century'. |
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[Click to enlarge] |
| After
beginning his league career with Geelong as
a centre half forward, where he was by no means ineffectual, 'Jocka' Todd
developed into one of the finest full backs the club, and the game, has
ever seen. He was at centre half forward in the Cats' 1925
premiership-winning team, and at full back six years later when they again
triumphed. Three times voted his club's best and fairest player, he
won the prestigious Champion of
the Colony award in 1931, and represented the VFL a dozen times.
An accomplished spoiler, he was said to be able to punch the ball
almost as far as some players could kick. Todd himself was a
masterful exponent of the drop kick, often clearing the ball well over the
centre line. From 1922 until 1934 he played a total of 232 VFL
games, and kicked 54 goals. Champion Collingwood
full forward Gordon
Coventry regarded Todd as one of his toughest opponents.
In 2001, George Todd was selected as full back in Geelong's official 'Team of the Twentieth Century'. |
