LAHIFF, Tommy

Tommy "The Turk" Lahiff was not blessed with the natural talents to be a champion, but he was tough and courageous, despite only being 168 cm tall and lightly built.

Lahiff was 25 years old when he came to Essendon from Port Melbourne where he had played from 1931 to 1934. He had been runner-up in the VFA Recorder Cup in 1931. Prior to that, he played with St Kilda Seconds in 1929 and Brighton in 1930.

Lahiff won Essendon's Best First Year Player award and Best Clubman award in 1935 and played in every game that year. He was also Essendon third top goalkicker in that year.

He only stayed with Essendon until the end of 1937 before returning to Port Melbourne from 1938 to 1941. He was captain-coach in 1938 and 1939 and again in late 1941 and was in two premierships in 1940 and 1941.

Lahiff played six games with South Melbourne in 1942 and then played 19 games with Hawthorn between 1942 and 1944. He was captain-coach of Hawthorn in 1944.

He returned again to Port Melbourne as coach in 1945 and 1946 and later coached Albury in 1947 (winning the Ovens and Murray League premiership), Corowa in 1948 and 1949 and then Sandringham. After this, he coached Carlton Stars in the Sunday competition and Port Melbourne junior sides.

Lahiff coached Port Melbourne for a third time again in 1962 and had the dubious distinction of being arrested during a game by an over-zealous policeman for allegedly using unseemly words. He was found not guilty. He was later assistant coach at South Melbourne in 1965 and 1966.

He played district cricket for St Kilda for many years.

Lahiff subsequently became well known as a radio football commentator, calling Association matches on 3AK and later League football on 3KZ and 3AW for many years, notably with ex-umpire, Harry Beitzel. Their much-loved, trademark routine was Beitzel asking "Are you there, Tommy?" and Lahiff, from the rooms, responding "Can you hear me, Harry?"

He did not retire from broadcasting until he was 80 years old.

Lahiff died on 8th December, 1996.