Tommy Downs
Tommy Downs (22 May 1901 – 11 August 1981)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
| Tommy Downs | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 22 May 1901 | ||
| Place of birth | North Fitzroy, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 11 August 1981 (aged 80) | ||
| Original team(s) | Northcote | ||
| Height | 159 cm (5 ft 3 in) | ||
| Weight | 65 kg (143 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Rover | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1927–1933 | Carlton | 56 (44) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1933. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Downs was a Woodham Cup winner at Northcote in 1925, having previously played with Preston.
One of shortest ever footballers at Carlton, Downs had a poor record at the VFL tribunal. He was suspended for 12 games in 1928 and 19 games the following season, both for striking. The former came in a Semi Final loss to Richmond when he kicked a career best four goals and the latter was in a Preliminary Final. Most famously however he received a 29-game suspension in 1931 when he was reported for kicking Richmond's captain Maurie Hunter. In a postscript to this incident, in 1954 teammate Frank O'Rourke admitted in a newspaper interview that he kicked Hunter.[2]
References
- "Tommy Downs". Blueseum - Online Carlton Football Club Museum. Retrieved 31 August 2014.
- Atkinson, Graeme (1989). 3AW Book of Footy Records. South Melbourne: Magistra Publishing Company Pty Ltd. p. 278. ISBN 1863210091..
- Tommy Downs's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.