Tom Heaney

A talented but temperamental centre half-forward, Tom Heaney began his VFL career with Richmond during their inaugural league season in 1908. He quickly established himself as a dynamic presence at Punt Road, noted for his pace, ability to read the play, and a lethal drop kick. However, his time with the Tigers was turbulent; he was briefly expelled in 1909 for playing with a country league team without permission, a testament to his independent streak. Heaney’s Richmond tenure ended abruptly after Round 1, 1913, when he was cleared to Fitzroy, a move that yielded immediate dividends.

Heaney became a pivotal figure in Fitzroy’s golden era, capping off his tumultuous 1913 season by playing in a premiership victory against St Kilda. He secured a second flag in 1916, a bizarre season where Fitzroy famously won both the wooden spoon and the premiership, with Heaney topping the club’s goalkicking that year. Renowned for his booming kick—he was once credited with a place kick of over 70 metres—he remained a dangerous forward and key structural player for the Maroons until 1921. Heaney finished his career with a brief stint at Port Melbourne in the VFA before passing away prematurely at age 40.