He’s collected almost every accolade available at Ramland and the club’s faithful would agree he’s been Deniliquin’s most consistent - if not the best - player for the past decade.
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This weekend Todd ‘Gags’ Gallagher will add Life Member to his trophy cabinet when he lines up for his 200th senior game at the club where he started as a fourths footballer in 2003.
At that time the club’s senior side was dominating the Murray League competition, the same as his father Leigh - the original ‘Gags’ - had done as part of Greg Danckert’s revered 1985 and ’86 premiership teams.
And just like his dad, young Gallagher had a toughness about him that was noticeable, even from such an early age – both he and his dad thrived on the contest. The tougher the opponent, the harder they went.
Todd’s current coach Gary Parsons, who’s coached him for a big chunk of the double ton, said Todd has an instinctive competitive nature that’s hard to match and certainly not teachable.
Parsons coached Todd and a bunch of other ‘home grown kids’ to that famous premiership victory over a highly rated Cobram team in 2011.
“I think Todd was only about 19 or 20 at that time and he just had a real doggedness about him; he thrived on the contested ball and hated getting beaten.
“We had some bigger names that year (2011) - (Sam) Lloyd, (Anthony) Bull, (Troy) Bartlett and Marshy (Leigh Marshall) was still playing - but I thought Todd really stamped himself as a top line senior player that year.
“He’s one of those players you can play anywhere and you know what you’re going to get. He’s very versatile as well – he’s spent most of his time in the midfield and up forward, but really he could have been a centre half back or ruckman.”
Todd’s role in the 2011 grand final can’t be understated, named second best afield behind Bartlett and having a hand in some pivotal moments in a thrilling last quarter; most notably slamming the ball on his boot to an unmanned Jack Tyndall in the goal square, who put the Rams back in front with less than two minutes on the clock.
Todd played ruck rover/forward that day and sometimes his hardline bullocking work can overshadow his immense talent, which includes a very strong overhead and one-on-one mark, a booming kick and a mostly accurate shot on goal.
He’s won the senior goalkicking trophy a couple of times and a senior best and fairest in 2018 (as well as a couple of runner-ups).
And while the 2011 triumph is the standout memory of his senior football career, it’s family and friendships that make the magical 200-mark achievable and more special, according to the man himself.
“Yeah, that was a special one (2011),” Todd said.
“Having such a young side mixed in with a few older heads and all local blokes ... and no-one expected us to win which made it even more special.
“Apart from my dad, Gary (Parsons) and Frog (Bartlett) have been the biggest help to me in footy and to share that with blokes like that was something I won’t forget.
“I would have loved some more flags, but that’s footy; we’ve battled away over the past decade or more with a couple of finals here and there, but it’s the friendships and family and the love of the club that are always there.”
Todd is a fourth generation Rams footballer.
His mother Jill’s father Kevin Erickson was a best and fairest winner in 1953 and 1957, and her grandfather, Tom Erickson, is also a Life Member.
Jill herself rarely misses a game, while older sister Maddy is already a life member for her netball games milestone.
“I think sometimes it gets missed a bit that we’re such a family club,” Todd said.
“My sisters and I grew up around the place and most of our friendships started there, and now our kids are growing up in Rams colours; Jules (partner Julia) has our little girl Georgie on the sidelines in her Rams gear, which puts a smile on your face.
“I got to play some games with my brothers-in-law, Pepsi (Adrian Pappin) and Beaver (Sam Callanan), which was a lot of fun ... probably a bit too much fun with the after-match beers!”
The friendships made along the way and his love of the club are the reasons Todd, who turns 33 this month, has kept going for “one more year” despite the aging body.
Quite fittingly he’ll share a milestone with great mate and equally great player, John Anstee, who chalks up 100 senior games when he runs out against arch-rival Finley tomorrow.
The duo has been the cornerstone of the Rams’ defence and attack for a number of years, with Anstee a smooth-moving defender and also a recent dad. He and wife Pip welcomed Henry in January this year.
“Anstee’s been a star for the club and he’s just a great person on and off the field ... a real role model for our younger players the way he prepares and the training he does to get his body right,” Todd said.
“He’s getting on a bit but he’s been one of the best defenders in the comp for a number of years now.”
Todd himself concedes it’s probably coming to an end, of which Anstee has his own views.
“Todd’s been telling us for five years he’s been retiring and hasn’t done a full pre-season for about the same amount of time, so perhaps that’s the formula because he’s still playing pretty good footy” Anstee said with a smirk.
“But in all seriousness, he’s been a great stalwart for the club, not only what he has done on the field but also coaching both the senior and junior grades.
“From playing alongside him to being coached by him and then to coach with him, it’s been a journey that I’ll remember forever.
“He is that special kind of guy that continues to give all he can to the club.”
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