Tom Alvin (born 21 April 1962) is a former

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an oval field, often a modified cricket ground. Points are scored by k ...

er who played for the Carlton Football Club in the

Australian Football League The Australian Football League (AFL) is the only fully professional competition of Australian rules football. Through the AFL Commission, the AFL also serves as the sport's governing body and is responsible for controlling the laws of the gam ...

(AFL). Recruited from Bairnsdale in the

Latrobe Valley Football League The Gippsland League (formerly known as the West Gippsland Latrobe Football League) is an Australian rules football and netball league in the Gippsland region of Victoria, Australia. It is considered the only AFL Victoria major league in Gippsla ...

, Alvin was easily identifiable on the field with his flowing black hair and determined, aggressive style of play, becoming a cult figure during his time with the Blues.

AFL career

Due to Bairnsdale being in 's recruiting zone, Alvin was chased by the Bulldogs but ended up at Carlton. He was among a host of Carlton players making their senior

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFL) debut in round 1 of the

1984 VFL season The 1984 VFL season was the 88th season of the Victorian Football League (VFL), the highest level senior Australian rules football competition in Victoria. The season featured twelve clubs, ran from 31 March until 29 September, and comprised a ...

against

North Melbourne North Melbourne is an inner-city suburb in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, north-west of Melbourne's Central Business District, located within the City of Melbourne local government area. North Melbourne recorded a population of 14,953 at the ...

at Waverley Park. Other players making their debut alongside Alvin included

Wayne Blackwell Wayne Anthony Blackwell (born 30 August 1960) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for Claremont in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL) and Carlton in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1978 to 1990. Bo ...

Warren Ralph Warren James Ralph (born 25 February 1959) is a former Australian rules footballer who played during the 1980s with great success as a full-forward for Claremont in the WAFL and with lesser success in the VFL and SANFL. Ralph began his caree ...

, David Honybun and Fraser Murphy. In his second season, he was named in the Victorian squad for the state of origin game against South Australia, before making his debut for Victoria against Western Australia. Alvin started his career at the Blues as a defensive half-back flanker, however when

Robert Walls Robert Walls (born 21 July 1950) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented and in the Victorian Football League (VFL) during the 1960s and 1970s. In a playing career that spanned three decades Robert played a combined 259 games ...

replaced David Parkin as coach at the start of the 1986 season, Alvin was promoted into a midfield role. Alvin had one of his best seasons in the AFL, with the Blues making it to the Grand Final (losing to

Hawthorn Hawthorn or Hawthorns may refer to: Plants * '' Crataegus'' (hawthorn), a large genus of shrubs and trees in the family Rosaceae * ''Rhaphiolepis'' (hawthorn), a genus of about 15 species of evergreen shrubs and small trees in the family Rosace ...

by 42 points) and being selected to play State of Origin for Victoria. In 1987 Carlton had an outstanding season, losing only four matches by a combined total of 56 points. Carlton finished the season one game clear of second placed Hawthorn, thereby earning a week's rest before the second semi-final. After a tight struggle, the Blues beat the Hawks in the second semi-final to move straight into the Grand Final. After a tight, bruising first quarter, Carlton ran away with the game, eventually winning by 33 points. Alvin was one of the best Blues afield, completely outclassing Hawthorn champion

Gary Buckenara Gary William Buckenara (born 3 July 1958) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Hawthorn Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the Subiaco Football Club in the West Australian Football League (WAFL). R ...

. Alvin played with the Blues until the end of the 1994 season, when he retired after 218 games. He stayed in the game for a couple of years, captain-coaching

Sandringham Sandringham can refer to: Places * Sandringham, New South Wales, Australia * Sandringham, Queensland, Australia * Sandringham, Victoria, Australia **Sandringham railway line **Sandringham railway station **Electoral district of Sandringham * Sand ...

in the

Victorian Football Association The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football league in Australia serving as one of the second-tier regional semi-professional competitions which sit underneath the fully professional Australian Football League (AFL). It ...

(VFA) in 1995 and 1996. In 1999 Alvin was inducted into the Carlton Football Club Hall of Fame in recognition of his achievements with the club.

References

External links

* *
Tom Alvin's Blueseum profile
{{DEFAULTSORT:Alvin, Tom 1962 births Living people Carlton Football Club players Carlton Football Club Premiership players Sandringham Football Club players Sandringham Football Club coaches Bairnsdale Football Club players Victorian State of Origin players Australian rules footballers from Victoria (Australia) People from Bairnsdale One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players