Don Roach
Encyclopedia
Don Roach is a former Australian rules football
er who played for Hawthorn
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1960s and also had a noted career in the South Australian National Football League
(SANFL).
Roach, a left footed flanker, played his early football at SANFL club West Adelaide
, for whom he debuted in 1958. He crossed leagues in 1964 and joined Hawthorn but only stayed for two seasons.
In 1966 he returned to West Adelaide and was appointed captain-coach. That same year he represented South Australia at the Hobart Carnival
, his second interstate carnival having competed in the one at Brisbane back in 1961. He was selected into the All-Australian team for his efforts in Brisbane.
After taking a break from the game in 1969 he returned to action the following season at his new club Norwood
where he would finish his career. When Roach retired in 1972 his final tally of games in the SANFL amounted to 204 and he also represented South Australia on nine occasions. He went on to serve the league as an administrator.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Hawthorn
Hawthorn Football Club
The Hawthorn Football Club, nicknamed the Hawks, is a professional Australian rules football club in the Australian Football League . The club, founded in 1902, is the youngest of the Victorian-based teams in the AFL. The team play in Brown & Gold vertically striped guernseys...
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) during the 1960s and also had a noted career in the South Australian National Football League
South Australian National Football League
The South Australian National Football League is an Australian rules football league based in the Australian state of South Australia. It is also the governing body for the sport of Australian rules football in South Australia....
(SANFL).
Roach, a left footed flanker, played his early football at SANFL club West Adelaide
West Adelaide Football Club
West Adelaide Football Club is an Australian rules football club in the South Australian National Football League . Commonly known as The Bloods and Westies, the clubs home base is City Mazda Stadium located in Richmond, an inner-western suburb of Adelaide.-Early Years :West Adelaide was formed in...
, for whom he debuted in 1958. He crossed leagues in 1964 and joined Hawthorn but only stayed for two seasons.
In 1966 he returned to West Adelaide and was appointed captain-coach. That same year he represented South Australia at the Hobart Carnival
1966 Hobart Carnival
The 1966 Hobart Carnival was the 16th edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was the final time that Tasmania hosted a carnival....
, his second interstate carnival having competed in the one at Brisbane back in 1961. He was selected into the All-Australian team for his efforts in Brisbane.
After taking a break from the game in 1969 he returned to action the following season at his new club Norwood
Norwood Football Club
Norwood Football Club, nicknamed, Redlegs, is an Australian rules football club belonging to the South Australian National Football League in the state of South Australia...
where he would finish his career. When Roach retired in 1972 his final tally of games in the SANFL amounted to 204 and he also represented South Australia on nine occasions. He went on to serve the league as an administrator.