Tom Hafey

Full Name: TOM HAFEY
Date of Birth: 05/08/1931
Height: 173 cm ( 5-8 )
Weight: 76 kg ( 12-0 )
Guernsey: 18
Debut: 30/05/1953, Round 6, Collingwood
Last Game: 23/08/1958, Round 18, Adelaide

RICHMOND SENIORS
Seasons: 1953-58
Total Games: 67
Total Goals: 10

Honours

RICHMOND RESERVES
Seasons: 1953-58
Total Games: 34
Total Goals: 6

Honours: Premiership 1954

TOM HAFEY COACHING RECORD

RICHMOND 1966-76 Games 248, Won 173, Drew 2, Lost 73

Collingwood 1977-82 Games 138, Won 89, Drew 2, Lost 47
Geelong 1983-85 Games 66, Won 31, Drew 0, Lost 35
Sydney Swans 1986-88 Games 70, Won 43, Drew 0, Lost 27

Richmond Life Member 1967
Richmond Hall of Fame member 2002 elevated to Immortal 2003
Richmond Team of Twentieth Century Coach 1998
AFL Life Membership
Australian Football Hall of Fame 1996

BIOGRAPHY
Tom originally joined Richmond from East Malvern. He played in the back-pocket during his six seasons at the club and was a member of the Reserves’ 1954 Premiership side. By his own admission he was a battler as far as playing the game. He was a regular member of the senior team in 1955 and 1956; however, 15 of his 67 senior games were as a reserve. After leaving Richmond, Tom took the position as playing-coach of Shepparton and during his six years at the helm, he led them to three consecutive Premierships. It was during his years at Shepparton that the foundations for a successful coaching career were laid. He returned to Richmond in 1966 and almost met with success in his first season when the Tigers missed the finals by percentage only. After this the dedication and hard work paid off. He led Richmond into five Grand Finals which resulted in Premierships in 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974 and second in 1972. The Tigers also finished third in 1971 and 1975. In 1969 Richmond finished fourth, after the home and away games, on percentage only but their fitness saw them steamroll Geelong, Collingwood and Carlton, to take the flag. Richmond also won the Australian Championship in 1969, 1973 and 1974.
He left Richmond at the end of 1976 due to internal problems and took on the coaching position at Collingwood. He lifted Collingwood from the wooden spoon in 1976 to a drawn Grand Final and eventful runners-up in 1977. Whilst at Collingwood, he led them to Grand Finals in 1977, 1979 day and night, 1980 day and night, and 1981, for one victory, the 1979 night Premiership win over Hawthorn. He was later sacked by Collingwood midway through the 1982 season, ironically at the same time as Royce Hart was relieved of the Footscray coaching job. Tom was then replaced by one of his former Richmond players, Michael Erwin. He then spent three seasons with Geelong, before moving north to coach the Sydney Swans. Whilst coaching the Swans, he led them into the 1986 and 1987 Finals series. He also coached Victorian sides in 1971, 1976 and 1980 against Western Australia; 1971 against South Australia; 1978 against Tasmania; and 1981 against Queensland.
He is a fitness fanatic in the truest sense of the word and each day he undergoes a vigorous routine which consists of swimming, running and weights. A non-drinker and non-smoker his only real vice is ice-cream. He was a coach who set the example for his players in the physical fitness aspects of training. He was one of the first VFL coaches to enlist the help of the late fitness guru Percy Cerutty to toughen up the players at his Portsea fitness camp during the pre-season. Tom also used boxing as a motivational aid. Teams coached by him were always very strong physical sides who traditionally kicked the ball long. His fitness also helped to save a 13 year old boy from drowning at Portsea surf beach in January, 1974.
Tom was awarded Life Membership at Richmond in 1967; is a Life Member of the VFL/AFL and in 1996 was inducted into the AFL’s Hall of Fame. During his VFL Coaching career he coached in 42 Finals games for 24 wins, 2 draws and 16 losses. During his football career he has been involved in nine Premiership sides as both a player and coach. Eighteen of his former players have coached AFL/VFL sides with Neil Balme, Kevin Morris and Mike Patterson coaching with great success in South Australia. Kevin Sheedy Essendon 1984-85, 93; Tony Jewell Richmond 1980; Michael Malthouse West Coast 1992 and 1994; are former Hafey-coached players who became Premiership Coaches. Along with Michael Erwin, Tony Jewell and Eric Moore who coached VFA Premiership sides. Tom was also an around-the-ground-man on 3LO where he started in 1989. He was heavily involved in sportsmen’s nights, as well as talks to school and football clubs around the country. His brother, Peter, played VFA football with Camberwell and acted as his runner during the 1970’s.
Tom Hafey died in 2014. 'Australian Football has had no greater or more enthusiastic evangelist than Tom Hafey' -Greg Baum wrote.

PRE RICHMOND
East Malvern U/19 1947-48 ; East Malvern Seniors 1950-52 ( Honours - Best & Fairest 1952 ).

POST RICHMOND
Richmond Amateurs 1959 ( Honours - Premiership 1959 )
East Malvern 1959 (1 game, Premiership).
Warragul ( vs Traralgon (as per 16 May 1959 The Age)
Shepparton Captain/Coach 1960-65, Games 104, Goals 88 ( Honours - Premiership 1963-65, League Representative Team ).

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