Tom Hafey

Thomas Stanley Raymond Hafey (5 August 1931 – 12 May 2014) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

He then became one of the VFL's longest-serving and most successful coaches, guiding Richmond to four VFL premierships before also having stints at, and finally.

He began his football career with the East Malvern under-19 team before graduating to the senior side in 1950.

A month before the finals, they hit the top of the ladder for the first time since 1951 and seemed certain to play in September.

However, two losses dropped the Tigers to fifth place with thirteen wins and a draw.

He spent three years with the club, winning the best and fairest in 1952.

Hafey was then invited to train at Richmond.

At the time, the Tigers were in turmoil after legendary coach Jack Dyer quit.

In an effort to reinvigorate the team, Richmond recruited a number of highly considered young players, including Ron Branton, Frank Dunin and Brian Davie.

However, it was Hafey, an unheralded local, who played twelve of the eighteen matches his first year, scoring eight goals, including scoring a goal with his first kick in the VFL.

The following season was less productive for Hafey as he played just four games due to a bout of hepatitis.

He did, however, play back pocket when the reserves captured the premiership by defeating Melbourne in the Grand Final.

He was named as one of the Tigers' best performers, and was selected for the senior team for the 1955 and 1956 seasons.

In these two years, he played 28 games.

After the appointment of Alan McDonald as coach, Hafey was often relegated to the bench as Ken Ward played in the back pocket.

The Tigers fell to the bottom part of the ladder.

Playing a backup role for a poor team, Hafey decided to retire from the VFL at the end of 1958.

Over six seasons, he had played in 67 games, starting 52 of them.

In 1959, Hafey played for the local Richmond Amateurs who won the premiership that year.

After the 1959 season, Hafey left the city of Richmond, taking a job as playing coach of Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley area of northern Victoria.

His tenacious attitude and devotion to fitness turned the club into a winner.

Shepparton lost the Grand Final to Tongala in 1961, then won three straight from 1963 to 1965.

Meanwhile, Hafey acted as a recruiting agent for the Tigers, recommending potential players from his region.

Hafey's performance drew the attention of Tiger secretary Graeme Richmond.

When coach Len Smith had a heart attack in 1965, the club appointed Jack Titus to serve as interim coach until a replacement could be found.

Hafey was encouraged to apply, and the decision came down to Hafey and former club captain Ron Branton.

Many expected Branton to get the job.

However, Graeme Richmond saw something special in Hafey and he was appointed coach for the 1966 season.

On his return to Richmond, Hafey found the team had acquired a number of young, high quality players.

He later recalled feeling some apprehension about his youth and that he would be coaching some ex-teammates.

Even so, he quickly put his stamp on the club, bringing intensity and desire to reach the top.

Although he acknowledged the ideas and tactical approach of Len Smith (who remained at the club as a selector and consultant), Hafey opted for what became his trademark style: kick the ball long and quickly into the forward line.

He raised the bar for fitness among his players, extending pre-season training and introducing a third training night during the week.

Richmond quickly became known for being the fittest team in the competition.

Richmond began 1966 strongly.

He was appointed Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) in the 1982 New Year Honours.

Tom Hafey was born and raised in Richmond.

Hafey was an inaugural inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, named coach of Richmond's team of the century in 1998, and given the AFL Coaches Association "Coaching Legend Award" in 2011.

He was renowned for his fitness and toughness even in his elderly years when he would still run rings around his juniors.

He would do over 700 push-ups and crunches a day every day since he started playing in the VFL.