John Todd, one of the most influential figures in WA football history, has died at the age of 86.
Todd, who coached the West Coast Eagles for the 1988 and 1989 seasons, made his name in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL), first as a star player and later as a successful coach.
He burst onto the scene, debuting for South Fremantle’s senior side as a 16-year-old in 1955.
He enjoyed a magical first year, taking out the Sandover Medal for the league’s best and fairest player.
Tragically, he was just 17 when a serious knee injury severely curtailed what could have been one of the greatest careers of all time.
Despite the injury, he managed to go on to play 132 games for South Fremantle and nine for Western Australia.
In 1961, he was part of a WA side that won the Australian championships and was judged an All Australian.
He began coaching South Fremantle as player coach in 1959, at the age of 20, and by the time his coaching career had ended in 2001 he had coached six premierships.
Those were for East Fremantle (1974), South Fremantle (1997) and four for Swan Districts (1982, 1983, 1984 and 1990).
He also coached the West Coast Eagles to their first finals appearance, in 1988, when they were beaten in a thriller by Melbourne at Waverley Park.
Tributes after Hall of Fame career
Todd was sacked as coach of West Coast at the end of 1989, but returned to Swan Districts the following year where he again won the WAFL premiership.
His final premiership came in 1997 with the club where it all began, South Fremantle.
Todd was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003, and in 2004 was elevated to legend status in the West Australian Football Hall of Fame.
In 2011 he was inducted into South Fremantle’s Hall of Fame as an inaugural legend, and was named Swan Districts’ coach of the century.
Swan Districts vice president Andy Holmes said it was a very sad day for the club.
“His long service and success at our club was legendary,” he said.
“Those players who played under Toddy knew how uncompromising he was as a coach, but he made us all better players and more importantly better men.
“The club was preparing for the annual John Todd Cup against South Fremantle at our next home game on Saturday 15 June.
“It will now be a memorial to a great man who will be sadly missed.”
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