John Todd (footballer)

John Todd
Personal information
Full name John Herbert Todd
Date of birth (1938-05-21)21 May 1938
Place of birth Manjimup, Western Australia, Australia
Date of death 4 June 2024(2024-06-04) (aged 86)
Original team(s) South Fremantle reserves
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1955–1966 South Fremantle 132 (188)
Representative team honours
Years Team Games (Goals)
1955–1962 Western Australia 13 (27)
Coaching career3
Years Club Games (W–L–D)
1959, 1966–68, 1995–98 South Fremantle 172 (83–88–1)
1973–1976 East Fremantle 87 (45–41–1)
1977–87, 1990–94, 2000–02 Swan Districts 417 (217–200–0)
1988–1989 West Coast 45 (20–25–0)
Total 721 (365–354–2)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1966.
2 Representative statistics correct as of 1962.
3 Coaching statistics correct as of 2002.
Career highlights
Source: AustralianFootball.com

John Herbert Todd (21 May 1938 – 4 June 2024) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Fremantle Football Club in the West Australian National Football League (WANFL). He also coached with success at East Fremantle, South Fremantle, Swan Districts, West Coast, and Western Australia. The only coach that comes close to John Todd in games coached is Jock McHale, who coached Collingwood. Mick Malthouse later broke McHale’s coaching record for games coached, but McHale still has won the most VFL/AFL premierships (8). Malthouse won 3 Premierships. A State Memorial service was held on 21 August 2024 for John Todd.

Todd won the Sandover Medal in his debut season at just 17 years of age, but his playing career was cut short by a serious knee injury in his second season. While still a player, Todd embarked on a coaching career that spanned over 700 games and lasted over four decades. He became only the second coach to guide three WAFL clubs (East Fremantle, South Fremantle and Swan Districts) to premierships, and led West Coast to its first finals appearance in 1988. Todd was an inaugural Legend of the West Australian Football Hall of Fame and was inducted into the Coaches section of the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2003.