Tom Grljusich
Encyclopedia
Duje Tomy "Tom" Grljusich (born 13 August 1940) is a former Australian rules football
er who played for South Fremantle
in the Western Australian National Football League
and Central District in the South Australian National Football League
. Three of his brothers played league football - George
and Don for South Fremantle and John for East Fremantle
.
Grljusich made his league debut in round one of the 1960 season alongside his brother George. In 1965 he joined South Australian team Central District. At Central he won the club fairest and best award in 1966.
He rejoined South Fremantle in 1968, playing until 1976. His 258 games for South Fremantle stood as the club's games played record for 27 years until it was exceeded by Marty Atkins in 2003.
. He has also worked as a real estate agent.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
in the Western Australian National Football League
West Australian Football League
The West Australian Football League is an Australian rules football league based in Perth, Western Australia. The WAFL is the second-most popular in the state, behind the nation-wide Australian Football League...
and Central District in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
. Three of his brothers played league football - George
George Grljusich
George Ned Grljusich was a sports journalist, commentator and former Australian rules footballer from Western Australia.-Education:...
and Don for South Fremantle and John for East Fremantle
East Fremantle Football Club
The East Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Sharks, is an Australian rules football club playing in the West Australian Football League . The team's home ground is East Fremantle Oval...
.
Playing career
Taking up playing football as an 18-year-old in 1958 for Cockburn Ex Scholars, he won the best and fairest award in his first year. After receiving offers from South Fremantle and East Fremantle, he joined South Fremantle before the 1959 season.Grljusich made his league debut in round one of the 1960 season alongside his brother George. In 1965 he joined South Australian team Central District. At Central he won the club fairest and best award in 1966.
He rejoined South Fremantle in 1968, playing until 1976. His 258 games for South Fremantle stood as the club's games played record for 27 years until it was exceeded by Marty Atkins in 2003.
Post retirement
After retiring as a player, "Turkey Tom" Grljusich remained involved in football, acting as a runner for then-South Fremantle coach Mal BrownMal Brown
Malcolm "Mal" Brown is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League and West Australian National Football League....
. He has also worked as a real estate agent.