Legendary WA coach John Todd dead at 86

The AFL world is mourning the death of Western Australian legend John Todd at the age of 86, passing away in his sleep on Tuesday following an illness.

The Australian Football Hall of Famer excelled on the field but will be remembered as one of the great coaches of the game.

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At just 17 year and four months old, Todd won the WAFL’s Sandover Medal as the competition’s best and fairest in 1955, beating Australian Football Hall of Fame Legend Graham “Polly” Farmer by four points.

Todd was the youngest winner in the competition’s history, other than 1942 winner Laurie Bowen during which the competition was restricted to under-age because of World War II.

But an ACL injury in his second season in the WAFL saw him tally just two more injury-free seasons although didn’t stop him from being a three-time best and fairest winner for South Fremantle, 13-time representative player for Western Australia and a 1961 All-Australian.

He finished with 132 games for South Fremantle — including a season a captain-coach at the age of just 21 — before transitioning into full-time coaching at the end of his playing career.

It was a successful move with Todd claiming six premierships between 1966 and 2022, where he coached WAFL sides South Fremantle, East Fremantle and Swan Districts.

But he was also the West Coast Eagles’ second ever coach — there have only even been six so far — and the first to take the club to the finals.

In the 1988 VFL season, Todd led the Eagles to fourth on the ladder, ultimately losing an elimination final thriller to Melbourne by just two points.

However, Todd’s second season saw the Eagles finish 11th and the club signed Mick Malthouse to replace him.

The next season, Todd led Swan Districts to the WAFL premiership.

On top of his 721 league matches as coach, Todd also coached Western Australia in 14 matches as well as Australia in six International Rules Tests.

Todd was also the first Western Australian to coach over 700 games.

Todd was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003 and was made a legend of the Western Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2004.

He is also in both the Swan Districts and South Fremantle Halls of Fame, the latter of which he was made an inaugural legend.

He was also the Swan Districts’ Team of the Century coach.

Upon the news of his death, AFL Commission chair Richard Goyder said Todd would be “deeply missed by all”.

“John Todd was successful in every aspect of his football journey and influenced so much of West Australian football to demand the highest standards and seek for constant improvement,” Goyder said in a statement.

“To win premierships at three different clubs is an extraordinary achievement. He moulded players into great teams but I want to acknowledge too that John had an unbelievable love of the game and football people across his entire life.

“In the privilege of being able to spend time with him in recent years, he was still a regular attendee at games, engaged with everyone across football and was a great advocate for the game and what it could do for people and communities.

“He was incredibly tough, building his career after injury took away his playing days, and he had the highest standards as a coach, but he was also incredibly generous and he was a person who made our game great, particularly in WA in the time when state league football was the pinnacle of the game.

“He will be deeply missed by all and we will honour his memory at the forthcoming Hall of Fame inductions on June 18, as one of the greatest coaches in the history of football.”

West Coast CEO Don Pyke also paid tribute.

“John Todd was a key figure in making us the club that we are today,” Pyke said.

“He was one of the club’s pioneers operating with no genuine home base and with a range of other obstacles in his path.

“He is a legend of the game and as a club we are extremely grateful for his contribution.

“On behalf of everyone at the club, I offer our deepest condolences to John’s family, friends and loved ones.”

South Fremantle president Peter Christie called Todd “a legend in every sense of the world”.

He added he was “comfortably the most talented player in our history” speaking on .

The Dockers also paid tribute, writing on X: “The Fremantle Football Club conveys its deepest sympathies to the family and friends of WA football great John Todd, following the passing of the South Fremantle footballing legend on Monday.”

WA Premier Roger Cook tweeted: “A Sandover medallist in his debut WAFL season at just 17, John Todd left an indelible mark as a player.

“Injury may have cut short his playing career but it couldn’t stop his passion for football – he evolved into one of the greatest coaches our game has ever seen.

“Whoever you barrack for, Western Australians know the name John Todd.

“It is a name that is synonymous with WA football. Vale John.”

Perth Lord Mayor Basil Zempilas posted: “Very saddened to hear of the passing of John Todd.

“When I grew up John Todd was the hugely successful coach of Swan Districts … and then the second coach of the West Coast Eagles.

“As I got older his deeds as a player became more apparent, a Sandover Medal at 17 – can you believe it? And the knee injuries which would have forced others to retire, but not Toddy.

“Then the incredible coaching record at multiple levels and many clubs and for WA. When I made my league debut for West Perth in 1990 – we played Swans at Bassendean, Toddy was back there as coach. It made the occasion feel even more significant … to be playing against a John Todd team.

“He had his run-ins with Dennis and with West Perth, but as he got older, he mellowed and as a broadcaster and journo I had the opportunity to get to know the softer side of him. He loved football, he cared about it and he was a giant of the game.

“One of the absolute titans of the game in Western Australia. He was feared and revered but he made us all walk taller as WA footy supporters.

“Rest in peace Toddy, thank you for the memories and the incredible contribution.”

Sports reporter and former Olympian Ashleigh Nelson commented: “Honouring the decorated @WAFLOfficial legend John Todd. @SFFCBulldogs and @SwanDistrictsFC fittingly to contend for the John Todd Cup in their next outing.”