Australian Football

The fact that his father, Dave, had played 56 league games for East Perth meant that John McIntosh, who had proved himself an excellent country footballer, was eligible to join the Royals under the father-son rule. However, he chose instead to throw in his lot with Claremont, and from 1962 until 1969 he gave sterling service both to the Tigers, and to Western Australian football in general.

Early in his career McIntosh displayed considerable versatility, playing in more or less any key position, or on the ball. Gradually, however, he began to be used almost exclusively as a ruckman, and it was playing in that position that he gained a reputation as one of Western Australia finest players.

Twice a Claremont best and fairest player, McIntosh also excelled on the interstate front, winning a Simpson Medal at the 1966 Hobart carnival, earning All Australian selection in both 1966 and 1969, and representing Western Australia a total of 17 times.

VFL club St Kilda was keen to procure McIntosh services as early as 1966, but in common with all his carnival teammates that year he pledged to remain in Western Australia until at least the end of the 1968 season. As it transpired, McIntosh stayed with Claremont until 1970 before embarking on a brief, but noteworthy VFL stint with the Saints. A knee injury incurred early in the 1972 season ultimately forced his retirement from football.

Such were the sublime and varied nature of John McIntosh skills that it was said of him that "small men envied his pace, medium-sizers his touch and he could mark with the tallest players".¹

John McIntosh's son Ashley later maintained the three-generation family tradition by playing successfully with both Claremont and West Coast.

Author - John Devaney