Derek Peardon facts for kids

Derek Peardon was an amazing Australian rules football player. He was born on September 24, 1950. He played for the Richmond Football Club in the VFL from 1968 to 1971.

When Derek was five years old, he and his sister Annette were taken from their family on Cape Barren Island. They were placed in children's homes in Launceston. Derek was a fantastic schoolboy footballer. He was also a talented runner. He made history as the first Indigenous (Palawa) player for the Richmond Tigers.

Derek Peardon's Football Journey

Derek showed his football talent early. In 1965, he was chosen for the All-Australian Schoolboys' team. He played in the 1966 Richmond Fourths premiership team. He also helped win the 1967 Under 19s premiership. His last game for Richmond was in the 1971 Reserves premiership.

Playing for the Richmond Tigers

Derek Peardon played 20 games for the Richmond Tigers. He scored one goal during his time with the team. He was a strong player, standing 183 cm tall and weighing 86 kg. His time at Richmond was from 1968 to 1971.

Success in Tasmania

After playing for Richmond, Derek returned to Tasmania in 1972. He joined the City South team. He played with them for six seasons. During this time, City South won premierships in 1972 and 1974.

Derek was a star player for City South. He won the club's best and fairest award twice. In 1973, he also won the best and fairest award for the Northern Tasmanian Football Association. He represented the NTFA nine times. He also played for the state of Tasmania twice. In 1977, he played one season for North Hobart. This team was part of the Tasmanian Football League.

Inspiring a Teammate

During his time at Richmond, Derek played alongside Kevin Sheedy. Kevin Sheedy later became a very famous coach. Sheedy has said that Derek Peardon helped him learn about Indigenous Australia. Derek's presence on the team was important.