Australian Football

Doug Thomas played 218 games and kicked 110 goals for West Adelaide between 1951 and 1957 and from 1961 to 1965, spending the interim time as captain-coach of Wimmera Football League side Dimboola, whom he steered to a rare premiership success in 1959. He made his name as a dour, close-checking full back, but later put some of the knowledge gained to paradoxically good use as a full forward.

Thomas captain-coached Westies in 1963 and 1964 and was skipper under Don Taylor’s coaching in 1965. He played five times for South Australia, kicking six goals. After his retirement as a player he embarked on a lifelong administrative and managerial career with the club.

Author - John Devaney