AustralianFootball.com Celebrating the history of the great Australian game
Full name
Donald Vivian Roach
Known as
Don Roach
Born
31 July 1940
Place of birth
Melbourne, VIC (3000)
Died
3 July 2011 (aged 70)
Place of death
Sydney, NSW (1002)
Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 23y 304d
Last game: 25y 28d
Height and weight
Height: 187 cm
Weight: 80 kg
Senior clubs
West Adelaide; Hawthorn; Norwood
Jumper numbers
Hawthorn: 16
Recruited from
West Adelaide (1964); Hawthorn (1966); West Adelaide (1970)
State of origin
VIC
Hall of fame
South Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2002)
Club | League | Career span | Games | Goals | Avg | Win % | AKI | AHB | AMK | BV |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
West Adelaide | SANFL | 1958-1963, 1966-1968 | 168 | 98 | 0.58 | — | — | — | — | — |
Hawthorn | V/AFL | 1964-1965 | 29 | 7 | 0.24 | 41% | 15.00 | 1.39 | 3.83 | 3 |
Norwood | SANFL | 1970-1972 | 42 | 12 | 0.29 | — | — | — | — | — |
SANFL | 1958-1963, 1966-1968, 1970-1972 | 210 | 110 | 0.52 | — | — | — | — | — | |
V/AFL | 1964-1965 | 29 | 7 | 0.24 | 41% | 15.00 | 1.39 | 3.83 | 3 | |
Total | 1958-1968, 1970-1972 | 239 | 117 | 0.49 | — | — | — | — | — |
Pre 1965 stats are for selected matches only
AFL: 7,606th player to appear, 5,679th most games played, 5,740th most goals kickedHawthorn: 540th player to appear, 380th most games played, 416th most goals kicked
Melbourne-born Don Roach moved to Adelaide with his family as a youngster, and commenced in league football with West Adelaide in 1958. A tall, angular left footer, he moved smoothly, and was a superb kick. He was selected as an All Australian after representing South Australia at the 1961 Brisbane carnival, arousing the interest of a number of VFL clubs.
In 1964 he joined Hawthorn, and played a total of 29 VFL games over the ensuing two seasons, mainly as a half forward flanker or wingman. He returned to West Adelaide as captain-coach in 1966 but in two seasons in charge was unable to steer his team to finals participation. Roach spent the 1969 season out of football but resumed in 1970 with Norwood where he added 42 SANFL games to the 168 he had played with West. He also played nine interstate games for South Australia.
Late in his playing career he was employed by the SANFL as its promotions officer, and he continued his career in football administration after he retired as a player in 1972, including an eventful stint as CEO of the Sydney Swans in 1985-86.
Author - John Devaney