Derek Peardon
Richmond
AFL career
20 games1 goals
- Debut
- R20 1968 v MEL31 Aug 1968
- Most recent
- R16 1971 v FSC17 July 1971
Stats
Bio
Born on Flinders Island and a survivor of the Stolen Generation, Derek Peardon was a prodigious teenage talent who overcame significant adversity to become the first Indigenous footballer to play for Richmond. Spotted as an All-Australian schoolboy in Launceston, he joined the Tigers as a 16-year-old and quickly developed into a pacy wingman and half-back flanker, aided by a background in professional running that saw him win the Maryborough Gift. Although his senior opportunities were restricted by persistent back injuries and the immense difficulty of breaking into Tom Hafey’s powerhouse centreline, he secured a reserves premiership in 1971 before returning to Tasmania. Peardon subsequently became a legend of the NTFA with City-South, winning multiple premierships and best and fairest awards, but his standing at Punt Road remains significant as a trailblazer who sparked teammate Kevin Sheedy’s lifelong advocacy for Indigenous engagement in Australian football.
Profile
- Born
- 24 Sept 1950 (age 76y 27d)
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 87 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn on Flinders Island and a survivor of the Stolen Generation, Derek Peardon was a prodigious teenage talent who overcame significant adversity to become the first Indigenous footballer to play for Richmond. Spotted as an All-Australian schoolboy in Launceston, he joined the Tigers as a 16-year-old and quickly developed into a pacy wingman and half-back flanker, aided by a background in professional running that saw him win the Maryborough Gift. Although his senior opportunities were restricted by persistent back injuries and the immense difficulty of breaking into Tom Hafey’s powerhouse centreline, he secured a reserves premiership in 1971 before returning to Tasmania. Peardon subsequently became a legend of the NTFA with City-South, winning multiple premierships and best and fairest awards, but his standing at Punt Road remains significant as a trailblazer who sparked teammate Kevin Sheedy’s lifelong advocacy for Indigenous engagement in Australian football.