Australian Football

Rover Tom Baxter had a comparatively brief but colourful League career with two clubs. Collingwood procured him from Maldon and his 89 VFL games for the club between 1907 and 1911 included the 1910 challenge final in which the Magpies claimed the premiership by accounting for Carlton. Some of the gloss was taken off the triumph, however, because Baxter was reported for striking Jack Bacquie and subsequently suspended for the entire 1911 season. Collingwood appealed, and when another of its players, Richard Daykin, submitted a written declaration that it was he, not Baxter, who had struck Bacquie the matter was dropped. Daykin also escaped censure because he had just retired.

The 1911 season saw Tom Baxter topping Collingwood's goal kicking list with 31 goals. The Magpies again reached the grand final, but lost to Essendon. Controversy attended the game as it was alleged that Baxter, who had twice kicked into the man on the mark during the closing stages, had accepted a bribe to 'play dead'. The matter was taken before Collingwood's committee which exonerated the player but it is perhaps significant that he never again donned the famous black and white jumper. The 1912 season found Baxter at St Kilda where he added a final 11 games to his career tally before retiring.

Author - John Devaney