As an 18-odd year old I had the pleasure of teaching T-Shirt Tommy while he was going for his Bronze medallion in the early nineties, tommy was about 60 and seriously fit then! Was an absolute ripper of a bloke just keen to learn and better himself constantly - just an all round inspirational person.

Will be missed by all that knew him

RIP Tommy Hafey, loved the bloke even with his dubious footy allegiances

82 is a pretty good innings, I bet Tommy imagined he'd live longer though. Recently we've lost others much younger. It's a reminder to all of us, to think about our own timing, that is, not leave our living until it's too late to enjoy!

RIP Tommy..

Amazing person to have met.

Pity we didn't get hold of him in the 70s...

I had the privilege of a few training sessions with the Bloods when Tommy was coach. Whilst I never made it, I'll never forget Tommy introducing me to the players in the middle of the SCG and made me feel like one of the boys, even if I was nowhere near it!

RIP Tommy, a true legend of our game.

The game and world is poorer for your passing Tom, but your legacy lives on today through those you coached and who passed on your teachings and attitude.

May you rest in peace and may all Demons and Tigers fans pay you the respect you deserve this weekend

RIP

Edited May 12, 201411 yr by Pennant St Dee

Rip tom, I met tom once and it was a funny story, years back when i was a young carsalesmen, tom came into my work, to see our sales manager, i was asked to make tom a drink, i asked what he wanted tea no suger, i came back with his tea he took one drink and spat it out, " yuck " he said " thats coffee , i have never drank coffee in my life"

Bumped into him once when he was visiting a school I was visiting. He crushed my hand when he shook it and while chatting for five minutes he told four jokes, including two mother-in-law jokes, he addressed me by name three times and was genuinely interested in what I was doing there. He was a cracker, a true original, will be much missed.

Rip tom, I met tom once and it was a funny story, years back when i was a young carsalesmen, tom came into my work, to see our sales manager, i was asked to make tom a drink, i asked what he wanted tea no suger, i came back with his tea he took one drink and spat it out, " yuck " he said " thats coffee , i have never drank coffee in my life"

You made Tom a coffee?

My God that is blasphemy!!

One of the best inspirational/public speakers I've ever heard. Every single person in the place was glued to every word he said.

It's an honour that Melbourne will be a part of the tribute to him this Saturday. Though of course I hope we spoil the day for the Richmond faithful with a Demons win.

RIP Tom

Ironic that Richmond play Melbourne after his death.

Richmond is where his heart and successes were.

The MFC was the club that he least respected and virtually hated (I read that somewhere). Richmond were the antithesis of the silver-tails, born-to-rule class. I doubt he felt this way as he aged, and as footy changed, but I recall his views of Melbourne Football Club quite clearly.

Ironic that Richmond play Melbourne after his death.

Richmond is where his heart and successes were.

The MFC was the club that he least respected and virtually hated (I read that somewhere). Richmond were the antithesis of the silver-tails, born-to-rule class. I doubt he felt this way as he aged, and as footy changed, but I recall his views of Melbourne Football Club quite clearly.

That's how my Grandad felt...He grew up in Richmond between the wars...Tigerland was a slum...Footy was all they had.

Tommy and his wife had a laundromat in Highett, my parents had a shop nearby. My father was a Richmond supporter so they had many good chats. He was always friendly & respectful to me as a kid and he didn't miss an opportunity to encourage good living and good health. RIP Mr Hafey

I had the privilege of a few training sessions with the Bloods when Tommy was coach. Whilst I never made it, I'll never forget Tommy introducing me to the players in the middle of the SCG and made me feel like one of the boys, even if I was nowhere near it!

RIP Tommy, a true legend of our game.

Hell i think this ipitimises Tommy. From all the callers on SEN today everyone who had met him said how he went out of his way to make them feel as if they counted. Once a year, in December i think , he would host a luncheon and invite everyone he had an ongoing football association with and catch up. He included past premiership players as well as those he knew from the reserves, Shepparton footy club etc. Treated all as equals and was apparantly a massive positive influence with all who came in contact.

Pity we didnt hear/see more of him in his later years.

Condolences to his family, friends and all associated clubs.

An absolutely amazing trainer and a purist of the game.

Footy was better for you Tommy.

Kick goals at your new home

so true bub

tommy loved the game in the most positive and giving manner

wasn't unusual for him to watch 6 games in a weekend starting off with the tackers early in the morning

he always had time for people and gave his advice freely

i got to know him a little, way back when i played with his brother at east malvern in the federal league in my waning days

tommy's passing is a huge loss for football and whilst being sadly missed has left a treasure trove of good memories for so many

condolences to his family

Hafey and Tuddenham were ahead of their time with fitness levels.

But for motivation and speaking skills and oratory, he was no Allan Jeans IMO

Hafey and Tuddenham were ahead of their time with fitness levels.

But for motivation and speaking skills and oratory, he was no Allan Jeans IMO

you can add kennedy to that list too

I used to love listening to him on the old ABC 3LO football broadcast.

Tim Lane, Peter Booth and Stan Alves would cover the match of the day, and Tommy and Swan McKay would provide updates and analysis from the next biggest game.

He had a lovely voice, sounded like it had endured a lifetime of whiskey and cigarettes rather than endless cups of tea.

One of the game's truly great characters.

RIP

RIP Tommy

Will always be known as the man who invented the 25 letter alphabet - "runnin, kickin, hand passin"

A footy icon and who lived and breathed our great game. RIP Tommy, our game is better for your involvement.

About 25 years ago a newspaper (can't remember which one) had an article on 'coaching DNA' pointing out that almost every coach had been coached either directly or indirectly by one of Tom Hafey, Ron Barassi or John Kennedy. If I recall correctly, I think it was when John Cahill coached Port Adelaide and he was the only coach without experience under any of these three. Coaches such as Sheedy, Malthouse, Robert Walls, David Parkin, Leigh Matthews and so on were all coached by one or more of these three and the next generation of coaches subsequently received their DNA. Today Malthouse, Buckley, Thompson and Hardwick, and probably others have some of that Hafey DNA and the competition is the better for it.

About 25 years ago a newspaper (can't remember which one) had an article on 'coaching DNA' pointing out that almost every coach had been coached either directly or indirectly by one of Tom Hafey, Ron Barassi or John Kennedy. If I recall correctly, I think it was when John Cahill coached Port Adelaide and he was the only coach without experience under any of these three. Coaches such as Sheedy, Malthouse, Robert Walls, David Parkin, Leigh Matthews and so on were all coached by one or more of these three and the next generation of coaches subsequently received their DNA. Today Malthouse, Buckley, Thompson and Hardwick, and probably others have some of that Hafey DNA and the competition is the better for it.

don't forget Norm Smith in that distribution of Coaching DNA...

That said i think "Tiger Tom" bred 22 coaches from his reign.

Phenominal effort.

Edited May 13, 201411 yr by why you little

RIP Tommy

Will always be known as the man who invented the 25 letter alphabet - "runnin, kickin, hand passin"

At MFC we had 27.

Aitch (most of us private school boy educated) and Haitch (used to spot trailer trash)

I met him a few times as a kid and then as a teenager through family friends. What can I say that hasn't been said? He was a genuinely nice guy that had a great habit of saying things that matter in a succinct and reasonable way.

Footballing accolades aside, the world lost a good and humble man.

Vale Tommy. May you have clean beaches and blue skies forever.

About 25 years ago a newspaper (can't remember which one) had an article on 'coaching DNA' pointing out that almost every coach had been coached either directly or indirectly by one of Tom Hafey, Ron Barassi or John Kennedy. If I recall correctly, I think it was when John Cahill coached Port Adelaide and he was the only coach without experience under any of these three. Coaches such as Sheedy, Malthouse, Robert Walls, David Parkin, Leigh Matthews and so on were all coached by one or more of these three and the next generation of coaches subsequently received their DNA. Today Malthouse, Buckley, Thompson and Hardwick, and probably others have some of that Hafey DNA and the competition is the better for it.

How much of it is DNA transmission, or opportunity via success?

Peter Knights and Gary Buckenara and Judge etc... were part of a successful era. This basically gave you an automatic key to get in the door of the coaching possibles.

There might have been some good footy thinkers who played under Dennis Jones at Melbourne. But no success = no opportunity.

How many of Barassi's MFC boys went on to coach AFL?

Special Edition of JYB with Tommy on SEN 1116 now!!