I just read Toddy passed away overnight. This guy really was a true legend who earned the title icon of the game by his deeds on and off the ground. How does anyone win a Sandover at 17? Sadly missed and greatly revered by all WAFL supporters. RIP John.
Rest in peace, John Todd.
An ornament to the game as a player and, in particular, as a six-time premiership coach.
Very sad, inevitable but still very sad. Toddy was a giant of WA footy and a good bloke to boot.
WAFL icon and legend on and off the field. Be great if one of SF, SD and EF can win the flag for Toddy in 2024. Condolences to the Todd family, the clubs he was associated with and everyone who loves WA footy, especially the WAFL.
Quite a shock as he was guy that kept himself in very good shape and there was no indication of illness.
One of the really big names in WA FOOTBALL, a South and Swans legend and was an icon of the Halcyon Days of 70s and 80s WAFL.
He was one of an ever shrinking pool of personalities who would speak up for WAFL - very few left now.
Very sad to be reading about this news earlier in the morning. One of the few well knowns standing up and still involved in the Wafl. And had time to chat to people is my understanding. Condolences to the family and those closest. He always attended the Grand Final. Going to be greatly missed.
A sad day but a day to celebrate the life and extraordinary football achievements of the legendary John Todd. A true giant of WA football. Crueled by injury after winning the Sandover medal at just 17 years of age he went on to do it all as a coach. Probably went the way most of us would like to go, in your sleep at home.
An ornament to the game. RIP Toddy.
Sad to hear of JT’s passing.What can you add to what’s been said already.Legend,amazing football personality and from all accounts a great bloke.But what stood out was he was a WAFL man through and through.He stood up for the competition and WAFL football in general.As has been said a dying breed and such a shame.Condolences to all.
Sad passing of a Legend of Wa Footy.
Was never given credit for the massive cleanout .Toddy done at the Wce.Advanced the club a few years in his two seasons at Wce.
Malthouse walked into a gold mine of talent.Toddy had already traded out over 10 players.In came Waterman,Heady,KempJackovitch,Wilson,Matera.
JT was a bloke who spoke his mind.In an era long before Wokeism.
The legendary storys of Toddy and the back locker room,at Swans.When Players where not performing to their ability.Richardson,Baker,Sidebottom brothers,Holmes,Solin.Boucher.All copped the locker room.
The famous call from Kevin Sheedy to JT.Before the 1984 Vfl Grandfinal.Sheeds asked JT. How do you get Leon Baker to play out of his skin like he did for Swans in 1982-83 Grand Finals.The rest was history and Shaker Baker was the hattrick premiership maker.
RIP John Todd.
gtrx - Interesting what you say about that era, he got them into the finals in 88 but 89 was a real stinker, and got the boot, plenty said he was never up to VFL standard and they needed a wiser head from the east. But he as you say may well have got that young group ready for bigger things had he been given more time.
He always said that his greatest ever team was the 1980 team that lost to SF in the GF even better than the teams that went onto win the hat tricks.
In his last stint as a coach - it was back to SDFC in 2000 for a battling swans side.
Ironically his coaching started that way in his very first stint as a stand alone coach at SFFC late 60s in a really struggling team.
Thing is Bazza, JT only got the WCE job, after Alexander was unfairly given the boot…after just one season. I guess WCE thought Toddy with his 4 WAFL flags, had more chance of footy success than Big Ron and his one WAFL flag. Coaching is an unforgiving beast at times. But agree Malthouse reaped the spoils of the previous WCE coaches hard yards.
I read that JT was at the recent EF 74 premiership reunion at Cl oval v Perth a fortnight back…I wonder if this was the great man’s last public footy appearance? Was he a regular at either the SD or SF home games?
Went and had lunch with him a few years ago. Amazing man and will be missed. He was doing deliveries for a company then. Medical or blood just to keep himself busy.
The insight he gave me in to coaching was unreal.
RIP great man
Very sad news yesterday to hear of the passing of John Todd. But as another JT said as sad as the news is we can celebrate his life.
At aged 16 Todd was called on to play in the South Fremantle reserves Grand Final team along with John Gerovich. Souths won the game (the league team also won the premiership that season) and Todd kicked 7 goals.
The following season makes his league debut and wins the Sandover Medal aged 17. Then after 28 league games injured his knee. Aged 20 is made league coach of South Fremantle. Would go on to coach more than 700 league games at three WAFL clubs and all win premiership under him.
In the excellent short interview made by South Fremantle Todd said he didn’t play footy to be a legend or a great he played because he loved the game.
I unfortunately never got to see the great man Toddy play but as a coach there was simply none better.
Growing up in the 1980s I was just in awe of this super human as he coached Swans & WA to what seemed like title after title.
We have lost a WA Football colossus.
RIP JT
There was an excellent interview with Bill Walker last night on 6PR paying tribute to the great John Todd. Not sure they’ve got it on their website.
Can’t see one article on the AFLs website about him. They are hopeless
[quote=“Time For a Flag post=235807 userid=1037”]Can’t see one article on the AFLs website about him. They are hopeless
[/quote]
Saw this pop up on News.com earlier today. At least they made the effort.
[quote=“Time For a Flag post=235807 userid=1037”]Can’t see one article on the AFLs website about him. They are hopeless
[/quote]
Except it’s right here…
https://www.afl.com.au/news/1144959/afl-mourns-hall-of-fame-coach-and-wa-great-john-todd
[quote=“Beasley Hutton post=235802 userid=847”]I unfortunately never got to see the great man Toddy play but as a coach there was simply none better.
Growing up in the 1980s I was just in awe of this super human as he coached Swans & WA to what seemed like title after title.
We have lost a WA Football colossus.
RIP JT
[/quote]
BH I saw him kick IMHO one of the best goals ever kicked at Lathlain.
Playing for SF in a pre-season game early 1960s.
He had a raking long left foot drop kick.
Gathered the ball took 2 or 3 steps and let fly from well behind the centre kicking to the northern end.
The ball bounced at the top of the goal square and bounced through for a goal.
He was a great player in an era of great players throughout the league.
I was lucky enough to be born at the right time.
[quote=“Freezin post=235796 userid=945”]Thing is Bazza, JT only got the WCE job, after Alexander was unfairly given the boot…after just one season. I guess WCE thought Toddy with his 4 WAFL flags, had more chance of footy success than Big Ron and his one WAFL flag. Coaching is an unforgiving beast at times. But agree Malthouse reaped the spoils of the previous WCE coaches hard yards.
I read that JT was at the recent EF 74 premiership reunion at Cl oval v Perth a fortnight back…I wonder if this was the great man’s last public footy appearance? Was he a regular at either the SD or SF home games?
[/quote]
Thats all true.
Yes, he would come along to SF quite a bit, in actual fact I said to a mate JT would quite often be at Foundation Day Derby if it was down here, and he was always at the John Todd Cup game once a year. SF v SD.
It is great to see the forthcoming SF v SD game at Bassendean will now officially be the John Todd Memorial Game and will be a very moving day for both clubs that had such an integral part in his career. Lets hope many come a long, I certainly plan to get a long.