West Australian (Perth, WA : 1879 - 1954), Tuesday 20 September 1932, page 14


SPORTING NOTES AND COMMENTS

FOOTBALL. DEATH OF R. O. DOIG. An Irreparable Loss.

(By "Rover.")

The game of football generally in this State, and the South Fremantle Club in particular, has suffered an irreparable loss in the recent tragic death of Ronald Old-

ham Doig, who, throughout a fairly long career, was an outstanding figure on the sporting fields of Western Australia. A brilliant player and a fine sportsman he was, despite his youth, a splendid leader, and his captaincy of South Fremantle was the dominant factor in that club's magnifi-cent fighting effort which gained for it a place in the final four this season, after many discouraging reverses. To his family and to his many friends all those connected with the game will extend sincere sym-pathy. In six seasons of league football, Ron. Doig rose to a high position in the game, for, at 23 years of age, he was both cap-tain and coach of his club. He was one of the youngest men who have ever occu-pied the dual position in the history of Australian football. To the successful fulfil-ment of the important duties attached to those positions, he gave his all on every occasion. That is saying a great deal, for he was a particularly gifted player, and possessed a knowledge of the game equalled probably by no player of his years in this State. There will surely be nothing in his career which will be remembered with greater pride than his outstanding attri-butes as a "club man." There is little doubt that Doig would have been an immeasurably better individual player had he not chosen to play the game as one of eighteen men striving for the success of the club. With him the one thing of paramount importance above all others was the team which he led, and the last thing which he did on a football field was the making of an extremely courageous effort to stave off its defeat in a semi-final. It was perhaps fitting, from the point of view of football, that such should have been the case. While not brilliant as an individual on Saturday, he played, as always, a fine "team" game, and it was through no fault of his that success was not achieved.

A Courageous Player. Weighing about 12st., and 5ft. 10in. in height, Ron. Doig was a magnificent phy-sical specimen, and he played the game vigorously, but scrupulously fairly. Cour-ageous in the extreme, at his best under adverse circumstances, and a man of strik-ing personality, he was an ideal leader for the fighting side which South Fre-mantle fielded this season. Among sports-men and followers of cricket and football in Fremantle there was no man who com-ded more respect or who was more popular. His death cast a profound gloom over the city, and the large attendance at his funeral yesterday was eloquent of the respect in which he was held. He was an all-round sportsman, for he was a fine cricketer, playing with the strong Fre-mantle side for many seasons. He played for the State against South Africa last season, and against South Australia in 1927, and was regarded by many competent judges of the game as comparable with Bromley as an all-round cricketer. He was one of the few men who has represented the State in both cricket and football. The Doig Tradition. Since the early days of football in this State the name of Doig has figured pro-minently in the records of the game, and Ron. was one of the younger members of the family whose exploits on the foot-ball field have become something of a tradition. He was the son of Mr. James ("Scotty") Doig, who was a champion in the East Fremantle team 20 years ago. An uncle, Mr. Charles Doig, was also a fine player, and ;ater occupied himself with the administrative side of the East Fre-mantle Club. He has been its president for some years. Another uncle was the late Mr. John ("Hooky") Doig, who, be-fore his death at the Great War, was a prominent East Fremantle player. Mr. Cleave Doig, a third uncle, played for South Fremantle, and is now associated with the club in an administrative capacity. Until Ron's death there were seven Doigs playing in league or association ranks. Bill Doig, a son of the late Mr. John ("Hooky") Doig plays regularly with East Fremantle in the league competition, and his brother, Norman, recently graduated to the league side. Charlie and George, who are sons of Mr. Charles Doig, are members of the East Fremantle association team, as is Edgar, a son of the late Mr. John Doig. George Doig was the leading goal-kicker in the association competition this year, scoring well over 100 goals in the first round. Charlie has played a few games with the league side. In addition, Jim Doig, a brother of Ron., has played for some seasons for South Fremantle in the league competition, and his sister Mary is an active worker on the club's behalf. Thus with the death of Ron. Doig an-other and a sorrowful page has been written in the history of a famous football family. The tradition which they estab-lished is one which will always be remem-bered with pride, and his part in its estab-lishment will add lustre to the memory of a thorough all-round sportsman. The Second Semi-Final.

The second semi-final of the league com-petition between East Fremantle and West Perth will be played at the Subiaco Oval on Saturday and promises to be even more exciting that last week's match. It is generally conceded that there is little between the two teams and the results of the matches played this season tend to confirm that view. On May 15, East Fremantle, then undefeated, met West Perth at Leederville Oval and in an evenlycontested game, West Perth won by five points at 9.14 to 9.8. The second game was equally exciting, but East Fremantle avenged its first defeat when it beat its opponents by seven points at Fremantle, the scores being 11.11 to 10.10. On that occasion West Perth was without its cap-tain and coach (J. Cashman) who played a big part in its win in the first game. The finest game, however, was the third in which the teams met at Leederville Oval a month ago. They kicked identical scores (10.11 each) and played one of the keenest games which has been seen here for some years. Thus Saturday's match will be "the conqueror." It is probable that both teams will be at full strength. Against East Perth in the last game of the first round, East Fremantle fielded a comparatively weak side. The fortnight's rest has enabled the injured men to recover. It is considered that Kingsbury, who sustained a painful injury to one hand will be fit and that James's leg injury will have mended. West Perth probably will field much the same team which defeated South Fremantle and it should extend East Fremantle to the full. If the weather is fine, West Perth may win, for it is a better high-marking team than the Fremantle combination and is good on the ground in favourable con-ditions. In wet weather East Fremantle would be favourite, for it seems that it plays equally well in rain or shine. It kicked more than 26 goals against East Perth in uncertain weather. What probably will prove to be one of the biggest factors in the game is East Fremantle's ability in big matches and its long experience in final and semi-final games. West Perth is fortunate in that it will have the steadying influence of Cashman. Much will depend on his ability to hold the team together and there is every reason to believe that he will be able to accomplish that, for on numerous occasions during the season he has, by astute lendership, brought victory to West Perth at critical periods. At present it seems that, given fair weather, West Perth will win, although a more fitting result to the game would be a draw. Twenty-six years ago, when West Perth and East Fremantle met at the North Fremantle Oval in the final round they drew. Since then the only draw which has occurred in a semi-final was last sea-son when South Fremantle and East Perth kicked equal scores in the first semi-final at Subiaco Oval.