Wally Donald (27 May 1927 – 8 November 2003) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Footscray Football Club (now the Western Bulldogs) in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Personal Information
- Full name: Wally Donald
- Born: 27 May 1927, Fitzroy, Victoria
- Died: 8 November 2003 (aged 76), Footscray, Victoria
- Original team: Braybrook
- Height: 178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
- Weight: 80 kg (176 lb)
Playing Career
Donald was recruited by Footscray from Braybrook and played his first senior game in 1946. From 1947 to 1957, he was a fixture in the Footscray team, missing only eight of 206 games over that period. Originally a versatile midfielder, he was moved to defence as his defensive abilities became apparent, and by 1948 he was established on the half-back flank.
In 1951, Donald moved to the back pocket, his best-known position, following the recruitment of full-back Herb Henderson. The partnership between Donald and Henderson became a key factor in Footscray's rise to prominence in the early 1950s. The club's defensive record improved dramatically, conceding 1,608 points in 1950 (89.3 per game) and only 1,105 points in 1951 (64.7 per game).
Donald kicked the only goal of his 205-game career in 1952, in round eight against St Kilda at Yallourn Oval. He was sent forward in the last quarter and kicked a left-footed goal, making him the only player with two streaks of 100 games without a goal.
Career Highlights
- VFL premiership player: 1954 — Footscray defeated Melbourne 15.12.102 to 7.9.51 in the Grand Final. Donald played his 150th game in that match.
- Footscray captain: 1956 (took over from Charlie Sutton mid-season)
- Con Curtain Trophy (Footscray Best and Fairest): 1949
- Runner-up Best and Fairest: 1952, 1953, 1954 (three consecutive years)
- Sporting Life Team of the Year: 1954
- Vice-captain of the 1954 premiership team
- Represented Victoria three times during his career
Coaching Career
Donald served as coach of Footscray during the 1952–1953 seasons while also playing.
Later Life and Legacy
After retiring from VFL football in 1958 (two rounds into the season), Donald worked as a scout for Footscray and coached junior football clubs. He was selected on the half-back flank in the Western Bulldogs Team of the Century in May 2002. Donald died on 8 November 2003 after a long illness. He was posthumously inducted into the Western Bulldogs Hall of Fame in 2012.
At the time of his retirement, only Arthur Olliver and Alby Morrison had played more games for Footscray. Donald played 205 games for the club, a total that currently ranks sixth on the club's all-time games played list. He is one of only two players in VFL/AFL history to have played more than 200 games with just one career goal.
