AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Thomas Edward Garland
Known as
Tom Garland
Senior clubs
West Torrens; Port Adelaide
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Torrens | SANFL | 1945 | 1 | 0 | 0.00 | — | — | — | — | — |
Port Adelaide | SANFL | 1952-1958 | 136 | 86 | 0.63 | — | — | — | — | — |
SANFL | 1945, 1952-1958 | 137 | 86 | 0.63 | — | — | — | — | — | |
Total | 1945, 1952-1958 | 137 | 86 | 0.63 | — | — | — | — | — |
Tom Garland commenced his league career with West Torrens in 1945, but managed just one senior game before transferring to Woodville in the amateur league. He spent the next half dozen seasons playing amateur football, helping Woodville to the 1946 A1 premiership, and regularly representing South Australia. In 1952 he was recruited by Port Adelaide, where he became the prototype for the strong, mobile ruckman-centre half forward type of player, much favoured by coach Fos Williams, who arguably came closest to full fruition in the person of his successor in the role, Ian Hannaford. Nevertheless, Garland, who played 136 games and kicked 86 goals for Port between 1952 and 1958 was no mean performer himself. He topped the Magpies' goal kicking list in 1954 with 44 goals, and was a member of premiership teams in 1955-6-7-8. Most of Garland's time was spent in the key forward position but his occasional forays into the ruck often met with spectacular, and on occasion match-winning, success.
Author - John Devaney