Tom Gilligan
South Melbourne
AFL career
42 games26 goals
- Debut
- R1 1897 v MEL8 May 1897
- Most recent
- R12 1899 v STK29 July 1899
Stats
Bio
Born in Rochford, Victoria, Tom Gilligan was a foundation player for South Melbourne, featuring in the club's inaugural VFL campaign in 1897. A consistent fixture in the side, he missed few matches during the league's formative years, establishing himself as a capable goal-kicker with 26 majors in 42 games—a solid return during the low-scoring 'dead ball' era. His standing among contemporaries was such that he was referenced in the popular 1898 poem "The Footballers' Alphabet," highlighting his presence in the competition. Gilligan retired from VFL football after just three seasons, concluding his career at the Lakeside Oval at the end of 1899 before eventually settling in the Castlemaine district.
Profile
- Full name
- Tom J. Gilligan
- Born
- 21 June 1874
- Died
- 19 Dec 1957 (aged 83y 181d)
- Birthplace
- Rochford, VIC
- Deathplace
- Castlemaine, VIC
Teams
Bio
1 revisionBorn in Rochford, Victoria, Tom Gilligan was a foundation player for South Melbourne, featuring in the club's inaugural VFL campaign in 1897. A consistent fixture in the side, he missed few matches during the league's formative years, establishing himself as a capable goal-kicker with 26 majors in 42 games—a solid return during the low-scoring 'dead ball' era. His standing among contemporaries was such that he was referenced in the popular 1898 poem "The Footballers' Alphabet," highlighting his presence in the competition. Gilligan retired from VFL football after just three seasons, concluding his career at the Lakeside Oval at the end of 1899 before eventually settling in the Castlemaine district.