Terry Wallace

Terry Wallace, born on December 13, 1958, began his Australian rules football career after being recruited from Camberwell. Residential rules would have seen him play for Fitzroy, but a trade to Hawthorn for player and $15,000 brought him to the club. Nicknamed “Plough” for his determined style, Wallace became known for his courage in contested play, making him a top centreman of his time. He debuted in 1978, playing his first game in Round 1 against Melbourne, and participated in every game that season, including Hawthorn’s premiership victory. This marked his first of three premierships with the Hawks, followed by wins in 1983 and 1986. His consistent performance earned him Best & Fairest awards in 1981 and 1983, along with third-place finishes in 1982 and 1985. He was made vice-captain in 1986.

Following a contractual dispute, Wallace moved to Richmond in 1987, playing 11 games before a back injury ended his season. He then joined Footscray (now Western Bulldogs) for four seasons from 1988 to 1991, where he achieved two Charles Sutton Medals in 1988 and 1989. After his playing career, Wallace transitioned to coaching. He took over as senior coach for the Western Bulldogs in the middle of the 1996 AFL season, leading them from 15th place to 3rd in both the 1997 and 1998 seasons, and was named coach of the All-Australian team in 1998. He also coached Richmond from 2005 to 2009. His coaching style is noted for its innovation, including starting the modern practice of teams warming up on the field before matches.

Beyond his playing and coaching roles, Wallace also entered the business world as the inaugural state sales manager for Sky Channel, Australia’s first satellite television network. After his coaching tenure, he developed a career in media, appearing across various platforms including Fox Footy, Channel 9, Seven Network, Sky News Australia, 3AW, and SEN, demonstrating his versatility and continued engagement with the sport. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2018.