SA Footy

A larger than life figure of both West Adelaide and the SANFL.

R.I.P Doug Thomas 20th April 2020.

The words “legend”, “great” and “champion” get used too much in our sport.

But Doug is all of these, a great, a legend and champion of both the West Adelaide Football Club and the SANFL. This is truly one of the saddest moments for me in Football.

Vale Doug.

Rest in peace, Doug. An impressive on field resume: 200-plus games, 1961 premiership, captain, coach, state footy - represented the state as a full-back and full-forward, if I recall someone else's recollection properly. And then there was his administrative career.

From my perspective as a kid watching SANFL footy in the 80s, he seemed like he was the West Adelaide Football Club, and someone who didn't take any crap. I think there was some controversy over his departure from the club, but he deserves to be remembered a a great servant of his club on and off the field.

A sad day for SA footy and particularly sad day for the West Adelaide Football Club. Vale.

Condolences to his family was a great SANFL man.

The last of the “old guard”. A great Westies man, a great SANFL man.
RIP

Sad day, RIP.

How old was he?

Dutchy wrote:Sad day, RIP.

How old was he?

87, I think.

RIP Doug.

Spargo wrote:The last of the “old guard”. A great Westies man, a great SANFL man.
RIP

Kris Grant really the only other i can think of to be included in the ''old guard'' conversation.

Magellan wrote:From my perspective as a kid watching SANFL footy in the 80s, he seemed like he was the West Adelaide Football Club, and someone who didn't take any crap. I think there was some controversy over his departure from the club, but he deserves to be remembered a a great servant of his club on and off the field.

^ what he said.

PLAYING RECORD
218 games and 110 goals for West Adelaide 1951 – 1956 , 1961 – 1965
West Adelaide Captain 1963 – 1965

PREMIERSHIPS
Member of West Adelaide premiership team 1961

MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA
5 games for South Australia

COACHING RECORD
West Adelaide Coach 1963 – 1964

ADMINISTRATION RECORD
West Adelaide General Manager 1977 – 2006
SANFL Match and Permit Committee 1987 – 2006
SANFL League Director 1977, 1991 – 1993
Proxy League Director 1978 – 1990, 1994 – 2006
SANFL Umpires Board 1989 – 1993
SANFL State Selector / State of Origin Selector 1990 – 1995

ACHIEVEMENTS
West Adelaide Life Member
SANFL Player Life Member 1966
SANFL League Life Member 1997
Inaugural Member of the West Adelaide Hall of Fame 2005

Spargo wrote:The last of the “old guard”. A great Westies man, a great SANFL man.
RIP

An excellent way of describing that 'earlier' generation of footy administrators.

Such a big figure in the 80’s as a SANFL obsessed kid. Condolences to the Westies community

RIP Doug

I had the chance to have a good chat to Doug for the few years that I was helping out at West Adel.

Love the footy chat with him.

Magellan wrote:

Spargo wrote:The last of the “old guard”. A great Westies man, a great SANFL man.
RIP

An excellent way of describing that 'earlier' generation of footy administrators.

I know there were more but Harry Kernahan, Bob McLean & Doug Thomas always stood out as larger than life figures when I was growing up in a similar era to many on here.

Spargo wrote:

Magellan wrote:

Spargo wrote:The last of the “old guard”. A great Westies man, a great SANFL man.
RIP

An excellent way of describing that 'earlier' generation of footy administrators.

Harry Kernahan, Bob McLean

Yes, i was thinking of the same, as well as the earlier reference to Kris Grant. Long-term club servants, and ambassadors.

Very sad even though a good innings, like others have mentioned on here already when I was growing up following a strong SANFL he WAS West Adelaide. RIP Doug.

RIP Doug Thomas, a very sad day for the club, growing up in the 80's he was one of the larger than life characters of the SANFL.

How did he die?