Tom Hafey - Transition To Coaching

Transition To Coaching

Then came the transition. Hafey left the city for the first time, taking a job as playing coach of Shepparton in the Goulburn Valley area of northern Victoria. With his tenacious attitude to the game, his fanatical devotion to fitness and his ability to engender team spirit, Hafey made his team into a power in one of the best quality country leagues in Australia. Shepparton lost the Grand Final to Tongala in 1961, then completed a hat trick of flags between 1963 and 1965. Meanwhile, his old team Richmond had raised itself from many years of slumber and were on the march, aggressively recruiting in country Victoria. During this time, Hafey acted as a recruiting agent for the Tigers, recommending potential players from his area.

Hafey's performance had drawn the attention of Tiger secretary Graeme Richmond. When Richmond faced a coaching dilemma in 1965 (incumbent Len Smith had suffered a heart attack), the club appointed Jack Titus to serve as a stand-in until a replacement could be found. Hafey was encouraged to apply, and the decision came down to two candidates – Hafey, or former club captain Ron Branton, now coaching at Myrtleford. The two men had started at Richmond at the same time, but Branton went onto great success that included three best and fairest awards and a runner-up placing in the Brownlow medal. Many expected Branton to get the job. However, Graeme Richmond saw something special in Hafey and he was appointed coach for the 1966 season.

On his return to Punt Road, Hafey found the place buzzing. A list of young, high quality players was his to mould. Hafey recalled that he felt some apprehension about his youth (34) and that he would be coaching some ex-teammates, all of whom could boast a greater reputation than his own. But he quickly put his stamp on the club, bringing an intensity and desire that the Tigers needed to reach the top. Although he acknowledged the ideas and tactical approach of Len Smith (who remained at the club as a selector and consultant), Hafey opted for what became his trademark style – kick the ball long and quickly into the forward line. He raised the bar for fitness among his players, extending pre-season training, and introducing a third training night during the week. Richmond quickly became known for being the fittest team in the competition, and often finished a game running as hard as at the first bounce.