Tom Allsop

Recruited from Melbourne High School, Tom Allsop was a local product whose path to the senior side is best remembered for the moment he heard his debut selection on the radio at a hamburger shop, prompting him to sprint home to tell his mother. A dedicated trainer who prided himself on elite fitness, Allsop played primarily as a winger or centre, using his endurance to impact contests late in matches when opponents tired. He enjoyed his most consistent form during the 1952 and 1953 seasons, establishing himself as a reliable contributor in the middle of the ground. After 58 games in the brown and gold, Allsop transferred to the VFA where he enjoyed a successful tenure with Sandringham, eventually returning to Hawthorn as an active and well-regarded member of the past players' association.