Career
A South Sydney junior, McLachlan made his 1st grade debut for that club in 1931. In 1934 Tommy McLachlan joined the Eastern Suburbs club where he remained until his retirement at the end of the 1937 Season. A hooker, McLachlan played in some of East’s greatest sides, winning premierships with the club in 1935, ’36 and ’37.
McLachlan went onto become president of the Australian Postal Workers’ Union.