The Sydney Swans are mourning the death of former Chief Executive Officer Don Roach who passed away on the weekend.

Roach was 71 and is survived by his wife Shirley.

Don moved to Sydney to become Chief Executive of the Sydney Swans in 1985 and 1986.

His involvement in Sydney football was not always confined to the office. In August 1973, while working for the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) as a promotions officer, Don Roach visited NSW along with Norwood FC vice-captain, Ross Porritt as part of the Rothmans National Sports Foundation. The two conducted coaching clinics for young boys in Sydney, Newcastle and on the South Coast.

"I was very pleased and suprised at the high standard of many of the boys attending these Rothmans Clinics. All of the boys exhibited a great desire to learn and these young players will assure NSW a most promising future growth of the code,” Roach said of the talent in Sydney.

Don played 158 games for West Adelaide and was the team’s captain and coach in 1966 and 1967; 42 games for Norwood, 33 games for Hawthorn and nine for the South Australian representative team.

Roach was a Life Member of the SANFL and inducted into their Hall of Fame in 2002.
He was named in an All Australian team in 1961 and was a life member of the SANFL. He was inducted into the SA Football Hall of Fame in 2002.

Roach exhibited a fantastic foresight for the game and started what has to become the most successful bi-product of Australian Football, Auskick. “I wrote the rules on the back of a cigarette packet” Roach said “and called it ‘Mod Football’.”

It is a legacy that Don Roach will be remembered for many years.

The Sydney Swans send their condolences to Don’s family.