Doug Heywood
Encyclopedia
Douglas 'Doug' Samuel Heywood (10 December 1924–2002) was an Australian rules football
er who played with Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) during the 1940s and early 1950s before becoming a noted sports commentator.
As a schoolboy at Scotch College
, Heywood excelled in multiple sports including tennis, in which he won the Victorian Schoolboys Doubles title in 1942. Heywood made his VFL debut in the 1943 season and after sporadic appearances that year was a regular selection in 1944, playing 16 of a possible 18 games. He was used mostly as a half forward flanker.
His football career was put on hold in 1945 with his service in the RAAF taking precedence. After being discharged from Darwin in 1946 he moved back to Melbourne where he undertook and completed a Commerce Degree. He won premierships in the Victorian Amateur Football Association
with the University Blacks
during his time at Melbourne University
With the Melbourne Football Club suffering from injuries in the 1948 finals series, Heywood and his University Blacks teammate Denis Cordner
were surprise recalls for the Preliminary Final against Collingwood despite both not having played with the club for four years. Melbourne won the game and took on Essendon in the Grand Final, with Heywood lining up in his favoured half forward flank position. For the first time in VFL history the Grand Final was drawn and Heywood lost his place in the team for the replay when Robert McKenzie
returned from injury.
Heywood played another full season in 1950, including a game against Hawthorn where he kicked six goals, and retired after ten senior appearances in 1951.
As a sports commentator, Heywood called football games and appeared on panel shows on the ABC as well as commentating on tennis matches at the same network. He also commented on Saturday football games for radio station 3AW.
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 with Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
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 1940s and early 1950s before becoming a noted sports commentator.
As a schoolboy at Scotch College
Scotch College, Melbourne
Scotch College, Melbourne is an independent, Presbyterian, day and boarding school for boys, located in Hawthorn, an inner-eastern suburb of Melbourne, Victoria, Australia....
, Heywood excelled in multiple sports including tennis, in which he won the Victorian Schoolboys Doubles title in 1942. Heywood made his VFL debut in the 1943 season and after sporadic appearances that year was a regular selection in 1944, playing 16 of a possible 18 games. He was used mostly as a half forward flanker.
His football career was put on hold in 1945 with his service in the RAAF taking precedence. After being discharged from Darwin in 1946 he moved back to Melbourne where he undertook and completed a Commerce Degree. He won premierships in the Victorian Amateur Football Association
Victorian Amateur Football Association
The Victorian Amateur Football Association is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia consisting purely of amateur players. Unlike the Victorian Football League and the VFL/AFL, the VAFA has always been strictly a purely amateur league and has affiliations with both AFL Victoria...
with the University Blacks
Melbourne University Football Club
Melbourne University Football Club, often known simply as University is an Australian rules football club.The club achieved prominence by being a member of the game's most elite competition in the early 20th century, the Victorian Football League between 1908 and 1914.Although there are no records...
during his time at Melbourne University
With the Melbourne Football Club suffering from injuries in the 1948 finals series, Heywood and his University Blacks teammate Denis Cordner
Denis Cordner
George Denis Pruen Cordner was an Australian rules football player. His brothers Don, John and Ted were also notable sportsmen.Denis Cordner played in the ruck in the Melbourne premiership teams in the 1948, 1955 and 1956....
were surprise recalls for the Preliminary Final against Collingwood despite both not having played with the club for four years. Melbourne won the game and took on Essendon in the Grand Final, with Heywood lining up in his favoured half forward flank position. For the first time in VFL history the Grand Final was drawn and Heywood lost his place in the team for the replay when Robert McKenzie
Robert McKenzie (footballer)
Robert McKenzie Senior is a former Australian rules football player, for the Melbourne Football Club, in the Victorian Football League .-References:*-External links:*...
returned from injury.
Heywood played another full season in 1950, including a game against Hawthorn where he kicked six goals, and retired after ten senior appearances in 1951.
As a sports commentator, Heywood called football games and appeared on panel shows on the ABC as well as commentating on tennis matches at the same network. He also commented on Saturday football games for radio station 3AW.
External links
- "Some Inspirational People" Profiled by Laurence MacDonald Muir.