Len Thomas
Encyclopedia
Len Thomas was an Australian rules footballer who played 187 games with South Melbourne
in the VFL
during the 1930s, before finishing his career as captain-coach at both Hawthorn
and North Melbourne
. He was the son of South Melbourne player William Thomas
.
in 1931 and 1938. A premiership player in 1933, he played through the centre in their Grand Final victory over Richmond.
In 1939 he moved to Hawthorn where he had accepted the role of captain-coach. The club finished 10th and the following season he crossed to North Melbourne with the same leadership role but couldn't prevent them from winning the wooden spoon. At the seasons end he announced his retirement from football in order to take up military service.
He became the most experienced footballer to be killed in war when he lost his life fighting the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943.
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
in the VFL
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
during the 1930s, before finishing his career as captain-coach at both Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
and North Melbourne
North Melbourne Football Club
The North Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Kangaroos, is the fourth oldest Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League and is one of the oldest sporting clubs in Australia and the world...
. He was the son of South Melbourne player William Thomas
William Thomas (footballer)
William 'Bill' Thomas was a former Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the VFL between 1906 and 1913 and then for the Richmond Football Club from 1914 to 1916 and again in 1919...
.
Football career
Thomas made his debut for South Melbourne in 1927 and went on to become one of their better players during the 1930s. He won the club's Best and Fairest awardBob Skilton Medal
The Bob Skilton Medal is awarded to the Sydney Swans player adjudged the Best and Fairest over the home and away season. It is named after Bob Skilton, who won the award a record nine times from 1958 to 1968.-List of winners:...
in 1931 and 1938. A premiership player in 1933, he played through the centre in their Grand Final victory over Richmond.
In 1939 he moved to Hawthorn where he had accepted the role of captain-coach. The club finished 10th and the following season he crossed to North Melbourne with the same leadership role but couldn't prevent them from winning the wooden spoon. At the seasons end he announced his retirement from football in order to take up military service.
Military career
Although Thomas had attained the rank of Corporal, upon his evacuation from the Middle East in September 1941 he requested that he be allowed to revert to the rank of Private, so that he could serve as a commando. His request was granted. He served with the 2/3rd Independent (Commando) Company, Second A.I.F.He became the most experienced footballer to be killed in war when he lost his life fighting the Japanese in New Guinea in 1943.