Todd garners gathering of greats

by LES EVERETT

AS informal football gatherings go it would be hard to top the shindig that took place at South Fremantle foootball club on Thursday 4 March.

The occasion was the launch of the book John Todd Six decades of footy by Brian Dawson.

The scope of Todd's football career is a story in itself. He was an extraordinary player who won the Sandover Medal as a 17-year-old in 1955 but went down with a knee injury in 1956 and limped through the rest of his football career. Despite his incapacity Todd managed to keep going as a player until 1966 notching 132 games for the Bulldogs, 13 for WA and gaining All-Australian selection after the 1961 carnival.

Todd was 20 when he gained his first senior coaching job at South Fremantle and went on to coach premierships at East Fremantle (1974); Swan Districts (1982, 1983, 1984 & 1990) and South Fremantle (1997). He also coached West coast into its first finals campaign in 1988. His 721st and last game as a coach came in 2002 when he was again in charge of Swan Districts.

The last two paragraphs show why Todd was such a perfect candidate for a book - it almost transcribes itself.

But back to Thursday's gathering and the faces in the crowd.

Here's who I saw...

Graham "Polly" Farmer, the winner of three Sandover Medals and a player who truly changed the sport during his time with East Perth, Geelong and West Perth.

Barry Cable, triple Sandover and Simpson medallist, premiership player with Perth, North Melbourne and East Perth.

John Gerovich whose spectacular career began with Todd at South Fremantle.

Mal Atwell, a 1961 carnival victory team mate of Todd's who coached Perth to premierships in 1966, 1967 and 1968. Atwell now wears a magnificent hat.

John Colgan the South champ from Boulder who was named in the WA team of 1961 but missed the carnival through injury.

Ray Sorrell, dual East Fremantle Sandover Medallist. A centreman who went head-to-head with Todd.

Tom Grljusich, the games record holder at South fremantle until last year.

The new South games record holder Marty Atkins and 1997 premiership team mate Tom Bottrell.

Gerard Neesham who made WAFL grand final day part of his normal routine.

Mike Richardson, who still looks fit as a fiddle and was spotted buying fellow Swans man Premier Geoff Gallop a beer at the launch. The beer was on the house.

Jack Sheedy a legendary figure at both the East fremantle and East Perth football clubs.

Steve Marsh, 1952 Sandover Medallist, member of innumerbale South Fremantle premiership teams and East Fremantle premiership captain-coach.

Phil Narkle, gloriously talented 1982 Sandover Medal winner with Todd's Swans.

The 1970 Simpson Medal winner was there too. But seeing Cicco in the South rooms isn't a rare event wouldn't need to be jotted down in your starspotter exercise book.

There were probably more but the point is that John Todd played with or against or coached all the aforementioned and their careers span the 1940s to 2000s.

From the Fremantle Herald.

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