Tom Banks (Australian rules footballer)

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Tom Banks (1867–1919)

Tom Banks was an Australian rules footballer who played for Fitzroy in the late 1800s, both in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) and the early Victorian Football League (VFL). He captained Fitzroy to its first VFA premiership in 1895 and also captained Victoria in interstate matches.

Early life
Banks was born on 17 June 1867 in Maryborough, Victoria. He was the son of Jordan Henry Banks, an African American who had escaped slavery in the United States. The Banks family produced several athletes, including his younger brother James Albert "Darky" Banks, who played football and cricket in Western Australia.

Football career
Recruited from Maryborough, Banks played a total of 171 games for Fitzroy (163 in the VFA and 8 in the VFL) as a defender. He stood about 180 cm tall and weighed around 80 kg. He served as captain of Fitzroy in the VFA era (1893–1895) and led the club to its first VFA premiership in 1895. He also captained Victoria in intercolonial matches in 1892 and 1893. Banks’ playing statistics and leadership helped establish him as one of the era’s great figures in Australian rules football. In 1911, he became the first former player to be awarded life membership of the Victorian Football League (VFL).

After football
After retiring as a player, Banks remained deeply involved with Fitzroy as an administrator for many years, contributing to the club off the field.

Personal life and death
Banks married Mary Ellen Moriarty on 17 December 1918. He died on 26 November 1919 at Melbourne Hospital after an operation, aged 52. His death was widely mourned, and his widow faced a difficult loss after a short marriage.

Legacy
Tom Banks is remembered as a powerful defender and a pioneering leader of Fitzroy during the sport’s early days. He was celebrated for his strength, leadership, and dedication to the club, leaving a lasting mark on the game and its community.