Tom Calder

Thomas Charles Calder (17 December 1917 – 23 June 1997) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He is a member of the Queensland Football Hall of Fame.

Tom Calder
Personal information
Full name Thomas Charles Calder
Date of birth 17 December 1917
Place of birth Carlton, Victoria
Date of death 23 June 1997(1997-06-23) (aged 79)
Original team(s) Coorparoo
Height 183 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 83 kg (183 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1945 South Melbourne 5 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1945.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Although born in Victoria, Calder played his early football in Tasmania and started his senior career at North Hobart in 1935. While with North Hobart, Calder suffered a serious on-field injury and had a kidney removed.[1]

A centre-half back, he made his way to Queensland Australian National Football League club Ascot in 1940 and joined the Royal Australian Air Force in the same year, serving as a pilot during the war.[2]

Calder was posted at Melbourne in 1945 and was joined VFL club South Melbourne, with whom he would make five successive appearances from round 14. Although the club went on to make the grand final, Calder wasn't selected in any finals fixtures.[3]

When Calder returned to the QANFL in 1946, it was with Mayne, but after just one season he crossed to Coorparoo as captain-coach. He represented Queensland at interstate football regularly post war, until 1953, including matches in the 1947 Hobart and 1950 Brisbane Carnivals. In 1948 he was captain-coach of Queensland and had his most successful season with Coorparoo, winning the league's Grogan Medal. Calder won the award once more in 1950 and after retiring continued his involvement in Queensland football as an administrator.[4]

References
  1. The Mail (Adelaide), "At the Brisbane carnival", 22 July 1950. p. 6
  2. "Calder, Thomas Charles". WW2 Nominal Roll.
  3. "Tom Calder". AFL Tables.
  4. "Tom Calder - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 14 August 2015.
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