Tom Grimshaw

Tom Grimshaw
Personal information
Full name	Thomas S. Grimshaw
Date of birth	9 December 1889
Date of death	10 August 1958 (aged 68)
Original team(s)	Footscray juniors
Height/Weight	179 cm / 70 kg
Position(s)	Half-back flank
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1908–1912	South Melbourne	85 (0)
^1 Playing statistics correct to end of 1912 season.

Tom Grimshaw (9 December 1889 – 10 August 1958) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Grimshaw was a defender who played 82 games in a row from debut, in the opening round of the 1908 VFL season.^[1] He was a member of South Melbourne's 1909 premiership team.^[1] Although he never kicked a goal in his league career, he came close in the 1909 VFL Grand Final when he hit the post in the third quarter. He had started the match in his usual position on a half-back flank and was knocked unconscious in a collision during the opening quarter. This prompted his move to full-forward.^[2]

A knee injury ended his run of games in 1912 and also cost him a spot in the 1912 Grand Final.^[3]

The defender returned to Victorian Football Association side Footscray in 1913, having played his junior football with the club. He participated in a premiership in his first season and then a losing grand final in 1914. His performance in Footscray's 1914 grand final loss to North Melbourne was called into question and he was one of five players sacked by Footscray, accused of "playing dead".^[4]

References

1. AFL Tables: Tom Grimshaw
2. "South Ends Nineteen Year Drought". Australian Football.
3. Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 978-1-920910-78-5.
4. "Tom Grimshaw - Player Bio". Australian Football.