Over the past few years we have lost some genuine AFL greats in the likes of Allan Jeans and Bobby Davis. But another legend of our game was added to the list on Monday night – the legendary Richmond coach Tom Hafey.
He was known as close to the fittest 82-year-old man up until six months ago when he was diagnosed with a brain tumour.
At the time he was still doing up to 300 push-ups and sit-ups, taking a dip in the St. Kilda foreshore and running approximately eight kilometres each day.
It makes it even more surprising and upsetting that he still passed away aged 82. It shows us that cancer can claim anyone. Even someone we all thought could live until his late 90s.
Tom Hafey wasn’t inducted into the AFL Hall of Fame because of his playing abilities, but he was still a handy player for Richmond between 1953 and 1958 before turning his eyes to coaching.
He took over his beloved Tigers in 1966 and coached his team to four Premierships in 1967, 1969, 1973 and 1974, before coaching Collingwood, where he became the first non-Collingwood man to lead the mighty Magpies.
He coached the club through the ‘Colli-wobbles’ period, where Collingwood just couldn’t buy a Premiership.
In his first year as coach, he took the ‘Pies all the way to the grand final, before falling short to the Kangaroos in an infamous grand final replay. Two years later he was denied a flag by Wayne Harmes’ desperate boundary line tap back in play, which would have been overturned if the Review System existed back then.
But it proved not to be, and heartbreaking grand final losses in 1980 and 1981 caused him to change clubs to Geelong in 1983.
At the cattery, Hafey didn’t impress. He joined the revolutionary bandwagon of the Sydney Swans as coach for three years, before retiring after a long and largely successful 22-year period of coaching, where he coached four Premierships at his beloved Richmond.
Hafey’s career was celebrated by the Richmond Football Club and by the AFL Hall of Fame, which he was inducted into in 1996.
At Richmond he became an immortal, the coach of the team of the century and a life member due to his brilliant years at the helm during the late ’60s early ’70s. As Richmond’s form slump continues currently, I’m more than certain that the Tigers wish that they could have the legendary Tom Hafey back coaching for them at the moment.
Statistics show that Hafey was the fifth most successful AFL or VFL coach in history, which is an amazing achievement for a man who wasn’t very well known for his playing abilities.
Nobody will forget the legendary Tom Hafey, who lived his life to the fullest and was the heart and soul of one great football club, and a well liked man by all other clubs, especially Collingwood, Geelong and Sydney.
Rest in peace.
judy morris
Guest
I met Tommy Hafey when I was a teenager.He was a traveler for a company.as well as being involved with football. He was a person you never forgot,and a perfect gentleman who loved talking football.A man who thrived on being fit cut down with rotten cancer.May he RIP.
Floyd Calhoun
Guest
Nice tributes from all. Fond memories of Tom Hafey from the golden era of Richmond in late sixties & early seventies. Hart, Bourke, Clay, Bartlett, Barrot etc. Bygone era I know, but it was great while it lasted. I was just a kid, & thought it would go on forever. RIP Tommy.
Coline77
Guest
Stavros, regardless of what u think of axles opinions in previous posts to respond with such a tasteless comment on a post like this, u really are a lowlife moreon who has no respect, I am disgusted at a reply like that u are what I would call a complete tool with no brains, maybe u should keep ur coments like that to urself on a post like this, and yes I could call u a lot worse however I do not think it's appropriate on this post. Unlike u.
Axle an the guru
Guest
If you want to chuck a smart one in at me Stavros , couldn't you pick a better subject than the death of a legend, it says a lot about the type of disrespectful person you are. After a dig like that on this topic makes me wonder if you even know who Tom Hafey is, that is the only pathetic excuse i can come up for, for such poor taste and total disrespect.
pope paul v11
Guest
Thanks Bayman. Tommy's Sydney days really Sydneysiders a dazzling look at what the VFL and later AFL was all about. Great nickname for Toohey. Pretty handy trio. Diesel obviously but I remember Toohey kicking 7 in the dark days and Bolton going for gouging!
Bayman
Guest
Pope Paul, No, he didn't take Geelong to the finals but such was his aura that when Sydney appointed him coach in 1986 he arrived with David Bolton, Bernard Toohey and Greg Williams from his Geelong team. Toohey, of course, had one of the great nicknames, Huck. In case you're wondering, now imagine someone clearing phlegm from their throat........huck toohey!
Simoc
Guest
I heard a commentator mention that Hafey talked footy nonstop all the time and must be a nightmare to live with. One of his daughters told me football rarely got a mention at home ever as far as she could remember. A great career on and off the field.
Stavros
Guest
Based on some of your previous comments, I thought that you were still a teenager.
Axle an the guru
Guest
The death of Tommy Hafey makes me realise that I'm getting older and we are all mortal. I remember him in his white hard yakka T- shirt as Collingwood coach on World Of Sport on Sunday mornings. I thought he would still be running around on his 100th birthday. R.I.P T. HAFEY
Pope Paul VII
Guest
This is true Bayman. The Swans were achingly unlucky with some dodgy umpiring in the 86 finals series. Also in that year I think Denis Carroll, who was killing everyone at centre half back, missed the finals that year. I thought he also led Geelong to the finals didn't he?
Pope Paul VII
Guest
No worries Sean. We dwindling band of older North Melbourne supporters are quite attached to 1977. North were indeed gone in the draw, down by 27 in the last quarter with only 4 goals and a truckload of points for the day. Hafey had already downed North and Barrassi in the 1974 Grand Final. Funnily enough I married a Collingwood supporter and we produced a bona fide Collingwood nut of child. So I'm quite partial to the 'woods unless they are playing North.
ciudadmarron
Guest
RIP Mr Hafey.
Bayman
Guest
I arrived in Sydney in October, 1985, just in time to buy a Sydney Swans season's ticket and settle back to watch Tom Hafey coach the team for the next three years. All Swans fans used to marvel at Tommy, on the coldest of days, going out at the quarter time breaks in just his t-shirt while we sat rugged up in the grandstand. Eventually, some players led a revolt against his training methods with the emphasis on fitness and more fitness. Often over-looked is the fact that the Swans under Tommy won 43 of 70 games and they also played in the finals. The years that followed were the darkest of days for the club. Twenty-six consecutive losses over two seasons until another legend, Ron Barassi arrived to turn the club around. Everybody loved Hafey in Sydney except, perhaps, those players who objected to getting fitter. Yes, the game plan was pretty simple but then footy is, essentially, a simple game as Tommy well knew. Today's coaches would have us believe footy is mobile chess but the truth is that it still comes down to the three phases famously highlighted years ago by Allan Jeans; We got it, they got it or nobody's got it. The ball, that is. Tommy would have approved. A great football identity and an even greater man. I always thought that, with his incredible personal discipline in regard to his own fitness, Tommy Hafey would live forever. That he did not suddenly makes me very nervous! RIP Tom Hafey, a legend.
Sean Mortell
Roar Guru
Sorry I didn't make it clear. I was referring to the fact that there was a replay at all, as the draw the week before was more the infamous story.
AR
Guest
I was lucky enough to meet T-shirt Tommy a number of times, and I was always in awe of him. Not only physically (he was dauntingly impressive as a human being, let alone an octogenarian!) but he was also the most positive, down to earth, effervescent and sincere man. His work in country football was almost unparalleled. Australian Football has lost a giant of the game. He had a direct influence over other figures in the game - specifically Sheedy, Malthouse, Balme, Green and of course, Bartlett and many many others. What an example of a human being. Vale Tommy. What a legend.
Ronaldo
Guest
He may not have had success at Geelong but the team he was moulding and the discipline he taught was just starting to show promise when he left for Sydney, taking Williams, Toohey and Bolton with him. Losing Hafey and those players set the club back for years and possibly cost us a flag later on. It said a lot about the lack of professionalism of our club then that we could let that happen. Vale Tommy, the best men never look back, or take a backward step. You were certainly one of those.
Modra
Guest
I met him during a corporate gig at the 'G a few years back. He had an amazing presence, and this news really took me aback since I've been living overseas for 5 years. I for one won't forget his contribution to our game. RIP Tommy.
Milo
Guest
A coaching immortal and a fantastic human being. I will never forget him spending five minutes of his precious time teaching me how to kick a football at a Croydon shopping centre back in about 1970. Im still angry at how Tommy was treated by GR after the 1976 season and glad (for him) that he decided to leave the Tigers and coach the 1976 wooden spooner to the grand final in 1977. But even though he coached at three other clubs, he always bled yellow & black. But not just all that, it was the life he led, the friends he made and kept, the people he inspired and turned around... just an extraordinary man. We will never forget him.
Olivia
Guest
One of the true legends of our game. On behalf of all Sydney supporters, our thoughts go out to Maureen and his daughters. There will never be another like him and I feel privileged to have met him whilst coach of our team. Vale Tommy Hafey; you will be remembered always.
Adam Julian
Roar Guru
A fit, friendly bloke who understood what football should be all about. A champion. RIP Tom. Well written Sean.