Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
John David McIntosh

Known as
John McIntosh

Born
1 November 1943

Died
16 October 2021 (aged 77)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 26y 154d
Last game: 28y 173d

Height and weight
Height: 191 cm
Weight: 94 kg

Senior clubs
Claremont; St. Kilda

Jumper numbers
St. Kilda: 9

Recruited from
Claremont (1970)

Hall of fame
Western Australian Football Hall Of Fame (2004)

Family links
Ashley McIntosh (Son)

John McIntosh

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
ClaremontWANFL1962-19691461310.90
St. KildaV/AFL1970-197251290.5767%14.163.245.8037
Total1962-19721971600.81

AFL: 8,228th player to appear, 4,258th most games played, 3,036th most goals kickedSt. Kilda: 1,154th player to appear, 309th most games played, 223rd most goals kicked

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

Footnotes

1. The Encyclopedia of League Footballers by Jim Main and Russell Holmesby, pages 284-5.

Sources

Full Points Footy's WA Football Companion

Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.