Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Thomas Arklay

Known as
Tom Arklay

Born
26 March 1914

Died
11 January 2002 (aged 87)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 19y 97d
Last game: 30y 160d

Height and weight
Height: 179 cm
Weight: 83 kg

Senior clubs
Geelong

Jumper numbers
Geelong: 30, 8

Tom Arklay

Advanced stats
ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
GeelongV/AFL1933-1941, 1944137450.3352%18.70—4.2025
Total1933-1941, 1944137450.3352%18.70—4.2025

Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only

AFL: 4,071st player to appear, 1,525th most games played, 2,197th most goals kickedGeelong: 382nd player to appear, 96th most games played, 178th most goals kicked

There is every justification for Geelong’s claim that in Tom Arklay they have one of the best half-back flankers in the league.¹

Tough, dependable and quick, Geelong's Tom Arklay stood out among the players of his generation by being genuinely two-sided. Recruited from North Geelong, he played most of his 137 game VFL career between 1933 and 1941 as well as in 1944 as a half back flanker, although he could also do a serviceable job on the ball. Extremely adept overhead, he was regarded as one of the strongest players physically in the league, and typically ran straight atthe ball regardless of potential impediments (whether hostile or friendly). He was on a halfback flank in the Cats' winning grand final of 1937 against Collingwood, and he won the club's best and fairest award twice. Arklay was Geelong's captain in 1941 and for part of 1944; he also coached the side in 1944.

Author - John Devaney

Footnotes

1. “The Herald”, 13/9/37, page 20.

Sources

Full Points Footy Publications

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.