[3] He played football for the school (he was captain of the team), as well as for Albert Park in the (Junior) Adelaide and Suburban Youths' Association competition.

The Leahy family lived in Gouger Street in the city and thus Tom was tied to the West Adelaide Football Club under the electorate or district system.

Tom had an outstanding season being named in South Australian Carnival Side, and finishing second in the Magarey Medal.

In 1915 Tom was unanimously voted Captain of the side after the retirement of longtime servant of the club Ernie Johns.

Prospect (who was loosely aligned with North Adelaide in this league) had left the competition early in the 1918 season due to lack of numbers.

Tom again had an outstanding season taking out North's Best and Fairest award and leading the side in what turned out to be a marathon finals series.

North played in five games (having drawn two) and fell narrowly at the last hurdle to Sturt by 5 points.1919 SAFL Grand Final.

In 1920 North Adelaide, led by Tom Leahy, went one better and took out the Premiership against Norwood 1920 SAFL Grand Final.

[4] Despite being considered by many as the best ruckman from South Australia in the sport's history, Leahy was for a longtime, absent from the Australian Football Hall of Fame.