Vale Doug Thomas

SANFL is mourning the passing of South Australian Football Hall of Fame member Doug Thomas.

Inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2008, Doug also received SANFL League Life Membership in 1997.

A stalwart of his beloved West Adelaide Football Club, Doug played a total of 218 games in two stints for the Bloods, from 1951 to 1956 and 1961 to 1965.

Making his name primarily as a resolute full back, he also displayed his versatility by performing strongly as a full forward, where he kicked a total of 110 goals across his 12 seasons for West.

A member of West’s 1961 premiership team, Doug captain-coached the Bloods in 1963 and 1964 while also representing South Australia on five occasions.

Doug’s playing career at Richmond was split after serving as the captain-coach of Wimmera Football League side Dimboola from 1957 to 1960, winning the premiership in 1959.

Upon retirement, Doug displayed his passion for the red-and-black as West’s General Manager from 1977 until 2006.

In that time, he also dedicated himself to South Australian football by serving as a League Director and on the SANFL Match and Permit Committee and SANFL Umpires Board.

Doug was also a State of Origin selector for SANFL from 1990 to 1995.

Fittingly, he is a West Adelaide Life Member and was an inaugural inductee into the Bloods’ Hall of Fame in 2005.

SANFL and the SA Football Commission express their deepest sympathies to Doug’s partner, Raelene, and family while honouring his outstanding contribution to the game in South Australia as a player, coach and administrator.