Australian Football

Ruckman Tom Outridge was one of Subiaco’s and Western Australian football’s all time greats. Perhaps best remembered for his championship-clinching performances for Western Australia at the 1921 Perth carnival, Outridge gave sterling service for the Maroons in 168 league games spread over 13 seasons. He was also the first ever winner of the Sandover Medal, which the WAFL introduced in 1921 to reward its fairest and most brilliant player each season.

Originally from Ballarat, Outridge played for a time on the Western Australian goldfields, including a season with Mines Rovers, before joining Perth in 1915. Outridge went on to play 33 League games for Perth over the next three seasons, without ever giving an indication that he would develop into the champion he subsequently became after joining the Maroons in 1919. The esteem in which he was held at Subiaco is clearly exemplified by the club’s decision to name its annual best and fairest award in his honour.

Western Australian football’s doyen of coaches, Jerry Dolan, said of Outridge, he “was a great feeder of the ball to his rover and a tireless follower. He proved his class against Australia’s best ruckmen.”¹

In addition to his club games, Tom Outridge represented Western Australia no fewer than 24 times, a tally exceeded by only one Subiaco player, the great Johnny Leonard. Outridge was the first ever recorded winner of the Maroons’ fairest and best award. That was in 1920, and he won a second the following year. He also served as Subiaco’s captain in 1923, 1927 and 1929.

Author - John Devaney