John Todd (footballer)

John Todd (born 21 May 1938) is a former Australian rules footballer and coach.

Playing career

Todd played 132 games in the WAFL for the South Fremantle Football Club between 1955 and 1966, winning their best and fairest award on 3 occasions - 1955, 1958, 1961.

When he began his career many considered they may be seeing one of the greatest players ever such was his skill level and enthusiasm for the game, and this opinion was helped by his best and fairest and Sandover wins in his debut season as a 17 year old.

However he then suffered a knee injury that in most circumstances would've ended a playing career. These days his injury could have been overcome by a knee reconstruction but such an option was not available back then.

Wearing a special leg brace he was able to continue playing provided he remembered not to twist that particular knee.

He was unable to capture the same form shown in his first season and his modest tally of 132 games over 10 years is evidence of the complications of dealing with his injury. Despite this he still won the best and fairest award at his club two more times.

Coaching career

Todd made his name as a coach in both the WAFL and AFL, coaching in 721 senior games over 6 decades.

He first coached his old club South Fremantle as a captain-coach in 1959, then after his retirement as a player, from 1966-1968. He then coached East Fremantle from 1973-1976, including winning the 1974 premiership. Finally, he moved to Swan Districts, where he enjoyed his first coaching stint from 1977-1987, winning the 1982-1984 flags.

It was during this time at Swans that he caused controversy by sending a reserves team to Melbourne to compete in a VFL Night Series game that despite his wishes has been scheduled in such a way he felt it would be detrimental to his team's performance in the WAFL.

He was then called up in 1988 to coach the West Coast Eagles in the then-VFL, taking over from Ron Alexander. He was the first coach to take them into the finals in 1988, but after a mediocre year in 1989, he was succeeded by Mick Malthouse.

Todd went back to the WAFL to Swan Districts, where he coached the team to a premiership in his first year back in 1990, before moving back to his old home, South Fremantle in 1995. He coached them to the 1997 premiership before leaving again after the 1998 season, taking a year off from coaching. In 2000 he made his final move, back to Swan Districts, before finally retiring at the end of 2002.

During his career he also coached Western Australia several times and even an International Rules side against Ireland.

Todd was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003 as a Coach.

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