RIP Don Roach

[Big Phil]

Sad news.

Condolonces to the family and SANFL.

http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl ... 6087084670

[topcat10]

I remember seeing Don play for West and Norwood.He was a good footballer but a much better administrator.He will be sadly missed by the football community.Vale Don

[Adelaide Hawk]

I would say Don was better than just a 'good' footballer. He made his debut at 17, won All-Australian honours in the 1961 Brisbane Carnival, played in the VFL, and was captain-coach of West Adelaide. Even late in his career he played some very good footy with Norwood.

RIP Don, a great contributor to our game.

[Big Phil]

From the SANFL site:

http://www.sanfl.com.au/hall_of_fame/don_v_roach/

[mal]

I only saw Don at the end of his career when he was playing under Robert Oatey and the young NW squad
He was a good player in his twilight years

I have read on a few occasions about what a very good footballer Don was in his overall career
Has been described as
A flashy left footer who played for WA and for HW in the VFL days

One very interesting story I have read is when he returned from HW to resume his career at WA
Don has been accredited for bringing the HW song back with him to WA
The current day WA song is a cover of the HW song

The 1960/70s was a great era in SANFL football
I collected the bottle tops with the footballers faces in them
I built up a dossier of autographs
I was part of the NW cheer squad
Footy + cricket was a big part my life
I marvelled at the footballers of that era, they were many of my heroes

The sad part now is most of those guys have reached a mature age, and are now passing away

Don Roach
R.I.P