AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Thomas Lahiff
Known as
Tommy Lahiff
Born
31 July 1910
Place of birth
Richmond, VIC (3121)
Died
8 December 1996 (aged 86)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 24y 270d
Last game: 33y 357d
Height and weight
Height: 168 cm
Weight: 68 kg
Senior clubs
Port Melbourne; Essendon; South Melbourne; Hawthorn
Jumper numbers
Essendon: 6
South Melbourne: 16
Hawthorn: 16, 17, 24
Recruited from
Port Melbourne (1935); Port Melbourne (1942); South Melbourne (1942)
State of origin
VIC
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Port Melbourne | VFA | 1930-1934, 1938-1941, 1945 | 178 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — |
Essendon | V/AFL | 1935-1937 | 49 | 67 | 1.37 | 35% | — | — | — | 4 |
South Melbourne | V/AFL | 1942 | 6 | 10 | 1.67 | 67% | — | — | — | 0 |
Hawthorn | V/AFL | 1942-1944 | 19 | 23 | 1.21 | 42% | — | — | — | 0 |
VFA | 1930-1934, 1938-1941, 1945 | 178 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
V/AFL | 1935-1937, 1942-1944 | 74 | 100 | 1.35 | 39% | — | — | — | 4 | |
Total | 1930-1945 | 252 | 100 | 0.40 | — | — | — | — | — |
AFL: 4,235th player to appear, 3,225th most games played, 1,073rd most goals kickedEssendon: 484th player to appear, 357th most games played, 131st most goals kickedSouth Melbourne: 593rd player to appear, 975th most games played, 478th most goals kickedHawthorn: 309th player to appear, 448th most games played, 218th most goals kicked
Tommy Lahiff was one of the foremost identities in the history of the Port Melbourne Football Club. His three stints as a player (1930-34, 1938-41 and 1945) saw him play a total of 178 VFA games, including the winning grand finals of 1940 and 1941, the latter as captain-coach. Quite diminutive at 168cm and 68kg he understandably played most of his football as a rover. He was also a danger near goal when resting in a forward pocket. Voted Borough best and fairest in 1934 and 1940 he came second in the Recorder Cup in 1931 and was named in a forward pocket in the club's official 'Team of the Century'.
Lahiff also spent time at four other clubs. Prior to commencing with Port he played a single VFA game for Brighton. He then undertook stints in the VFL with Essendon (49 games, 1935-7), South Melbourne (6 games, 1942) and Hawthorn (19 games, 1942-4). He served as Hawthorn coach in 1944 and later coached Port Melbourne in 1962 and South Melbourne in 1965. He worked as a much-loved radio commentator for a time.
Author - John Devaney