Interchange - Merv McIntosh (Perth)

Powerfully and athletically built, McIntosh combined strength and determination with a formidable football brain.  However, he rarely made illegitimate use of his strength, regarding football as essentially a game rather than the all out war facsimile into which it was gradually evolving in Victoria.  Indeed, it was alleged that he could "short pass as daintily and turn as nimbly as any footballer of more reasonable proportions" (see footnote 1).

Perth was a powerful club, contesting the finals almost annually, throughout Merv McIntosh's 218 game League career, but a flag proved elusive.  To the delight of a large proportion of the 41,659 spectators who turned up at Subiaco Oval for the 1955 grand final, the breakthrough finally arrived in the nick of time.

Subsequent Western Australian rucking greats like Jack Clarke, 'Polly' Farmer and Graham Moss perhaps enjoy more auspicious reputations, but 'Big Merv' was arguably the template on which all of them, to some extent, were based.  

[For details of Merv McIntosh's 1953 Tassie Medal win, click here.]

Interchange - Ken Hunter (Claremont, Carlton, North Darwin)

After making 4 appearances in 1975 he became a Claremont regular the following year when he sustained a broken jaw on 2 separate occasions, two and a half months apart.  He spent the 'off season' in Darwin, endeavouring to rebuild his confidence.

In 1977 he played outstanding football, and was rewarded with selection in the Western Australian team to meet the VFL at Subiaco, in the last non-state of origin interstate match between the 2 sides.  Starting on the bench, Hunter entered the fray in the 3rd quarter, and shortly after attempted to tackle Mark McLure.  His 'reward' for such impudence was yet another broken jaw - especially ironic this time in that Hunter and McLure would go on to be team mates in a couple of VFL premierships.

Clearly, Hunter's courage could not be doubted, but there were some who felt he was too frail to succeed at the highest level.  Over the next 3 seasons he proceeded to prove the doubters wrong, playing consistently well for a Claremont team that was just beginning to emerge from the doldrums, as well as for Western Australia in state of origin matches.  For 3 consecutive seasons from 1978 to 1980 Hunter finished runner up to Graham Moss in Claremont's best and fairest voting, while in both 1979 and 1980 he was accorded All Australian status.  Hunter spent the 1979/80 close season with NTFL side North Darwin.

By this time VFL club Carlton, which had been watching Hunter closely since at least 1977, had seen enough, and he was lured to Melbourne in time for the 1981 season.  Playing mainly on the half back line, Hunter was dashing, brave, and capable of the spectacular; he enjoyed a dream season, as his new club overcame Collingwood in the VFL grand final, and he himself was voted club champion.

His breathtaking form continued into 1982 when he was selected to play for Victoria against South Australia in a so called state of origin match.  He also played well in the 1982 grand final, despite suffering from concussion after an opening term collision with Richmond strong man Jim Jess.  Carlton went on to secure a 2nd successive flag.

Over subsequent years Ken Hunter added a commendable degree of versatility to his portfolio, spending a fair amount of time either on the ball or in the forward lines.  In 1983 he topped the Carlton goal kicking with 43 goals and he played well on a half forward flank in the 1987 premiership team.

After a career total of 246 games (99 with Claremont, 147 with Carlton) Hunter retired in 1989.     

Interchange - John Todd (South Fremantle)

Few players have exploded onto the football scene as sensationally as did John Todd in 1955 when, as a 17 year old, he not only represented the state and won South Fremantle's fairest and best award, he became the youngest ever winner of the Sandover Medal.  South Australian legend Bob Quinn, after witnessing Todd's debut at interstate level against South Australia, ventured the opinion that the youngster "was the most complete footballer for his age that he had seen" (see footnote 2).

Todd sustained a serious knee injury against East Perth in round 7 1956.  The road to recovery was long and hard, but after several aborted comeback attempts he finally returned to something approaching his best late in the 1958 season, a year which saw him again receive the red and whites' premier individual award.  The following year, aged just 21, he took over as South Fremantle coach, but stood down after just one year.  He would later eke out a reputation for himself as one of WA football's finest ever coaches.

Injuries continued to beset Todd for most of the remaining half a dozen seasons of his career (he stood out of football completely in 1965).  In 1961, however, he enjoyed a comparatively injury free run, and 3 of his 13 interstate appearances for WA were at that year's Brisbane carnival, from which the sandgropers emerged victorious.  Todd's excellent form during the carnival, in which he played mostly on the wing, was rewarded with All Australian selection.  He rounded the season off in gratifying fashion by winning his 3rd South Fremantle best and fairest award.  

But for injury, John Todd would surely have achieved much more as a player, and indeed might even have fulfilled his childhood ambition of becoming "the greatest footballer ever".  Nevertheless, he accomplished more in 132 League games than many players do in twice that number.

Interchange - John McIntosh (Claremont & St Kilda)

Early in his career McIntosh displayed considerable versatility, playing in more or less any key position, or on the ball.  Gradually, however, he began to be used almost exclusively as a ruckman, and it was playing in that position that he gained a reputation as one of Western Australia's finest players.

Twice a Claremont best and fairest player, McIntosh also excelled on the interstate front, winning a Simpson Medal at the 1966 Hobart Carnival, earning All Australian selection in both 1966 and 1969, and representing Western Australia a total of 17 times.

VFL club St Kilda was keen to procure McIntosh's services as early as 1966, but in common with all his Carnival team mates that year he pledged to remain in Western Australia until at least the end of the 1968 season.  As it transpired, McIntosh stayed with Claremont until 1970, when he was finally wooed to Moorabbin to form one of the most dynamic and formidable following divisions in football, along with 'Big Carl' Ditterich and Bryan Mynott.

John McIntosh was a success in the VFL, polling well in the Brownlow in both 1970 and 1971, but a knee injury sustained in the 1971 2nd semi final meant that he missed the grand final against Hawthorn, a match he may have been able to help St Kilda win.

Another knee injury incurred early in the 1972 season ultimately forced his retirement from football.

Such were the sublime and varied nature of John McIntosh's skills that it was said of him that "small men envied his pace, medium sizers his touch and he could mark with the tallest players" (see footnote 3).   

John McIntosh's son Ashley has maintained the three generation family tradition by playing successfully with both Claremont and West Coast.

Interchange - George Doig (East Fremantle)

A left footer, Doig favoured the torpedo punt, which he could execute with almost unwavering accuracy, whether from a set shot or on the run.  Unlike many prolific goalsneaks he did not rely heavily on any one specialist means of getting the ball, but was a true all rounder, as much at home on the ground as in a huge goalmouth pack.

George Doig arrived at East Fremantle in 1933 and set his stall out right away by becoming the first Western Australian player to kick a century of goals.  He went on to repeat this achievement in every one of his first 9 League seasons, topping the WANFL list on 6 occasions.

Doig's career total of 1,111 League goals in 201 games included a then record 19 in one game against Claremont-Cottesloe.  He also kicked goals with unfailing regularity in interstate football.

Football, however, is a team sport, and Doig never let the pursuit of individual achievements blind him to team goals.  Indeed, he was the consummate team man, and probably gave away almost as many goals as he scored.  If you asked him to choose, he would probably have accorded pride of place among his many achievements to his participation in 3 East Fremantle premiership teams.

Interchange - Frank Golding (West Perth & Sturt)

Golding never reached Melbourne because, while staying in Adelaide en route, he ran into his former West Perth skipper Bill Plunkett, who had returned home to play with his original club Norwood.  Plunkett prevailed on Golding to have a meeting with a Norwood club official with a view to signing for the Redlegs, but the Norwood official never showed up.  In the meantime, Golding bumped into another old acquaintance in the shape of former South Fremantle footballer 'Diver' Dunne, who had moved across to Adelaide in order to play for Sturt.  After hearing from Dunne about the exciting recent developments at Sturt which, thanks to the patronage of local tramways manager John Dempsey, had already seen the arrival at the club of high profile players like Harry Cumberland, Albert Heinrichs, Phil Matson, Bert Renfrey, Alphonse Wood, Joe Bushell and Percy Champion, Golding decided to forego his cricketing aspirations in favour of a football career at Unley.

Cricket's loss was very much football's gain, as over the ensuing two decades Frank Golding would proceed to eke out a reputation for himself as one of Sturt's, and South Australia's, greatest ever footballers.  For most of his league career he played as a full forward, topping the Double Blues' goal kicking list on half a dozen occasions, and the SAFL's, with 30 goals, in 1920.  Arguably his greatest performances came late in his career, however, when he had transformed himself into an astute, intelligent and highly effective full back.

A member of Sturt premiership teams in 1915 (the club's first), 1919 and 1926, Golding was captain in 1921, and captain-coach between 1925 and his retirement as a player at the end of the 1927 season.  His total of 210 games stood as a league record for many years, while no Sturt player has ever exceeded his tally of 28 interstate matches.  His sixteen season league career with the Double Blues saw him amass 240 goals, while he also booted 31 goals for South Australia.

When the Double Blues named their official 'Team of the Century' there was only really one possible choice for the full back position - Francis Hallet Golding.