Ron Doig Sr.

Ron Doig Sr.
Personal information
Full name Ronald Oldham Doig
Date of birth (1909-07-10)10 July 1909
Place of birth Fremantle, Western Australia
Date of death 17 September 1932(1932-09-17) (aged 23)
Place of death Beaconsfield, Western Australia
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1927–32 South Fremantle 99
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1932.
Source: AustralianFootball.com

Ronald Oldham Doig (10 July 1909 – 17 September 1932) was an Australian sportsman who played Australian rules football for South Fremantle in the West Australian Football League (WAFL) and first-class cricket with Western Australia.

A member of the famous Doig family of Fremantle, Ron was a first cousin of George Doig. He made his debut for South Fremantle at the age of just 17 in 1927 and by 1930 was representing Western Australia at interstate football. He was captain of South Fremantle in 1931 and captain-coach in 1932.[1]

On the cricket field, Doig was a right-arm fast-medium bowler and right-handed batsman. He made three first-class cricket appearances for Western Australia, the first of which came in 1926/27 against South Australia. Doig did not bowl and instead played as a top order batsman, making scores of eight and five.[2]

He had to wait until 1931 to play again at first-class level, with his opportunity coming when South Africa toured. Batting at four, he failed to impress with the bat but took what would be the only wicket of his first-class career, bowling opener Herbie Taylor.[3] When South Africa returned to Perth five months later, Doig made his only other first-class appearance but he did not affect the game.

In the finals of the 1932 WANFL season, Doig, who was now captain-coach of South Fremantle, was injured during a match against East Perth. He died from his injuries later that night after suffering from convulsions. The coroner investigated the death and declared it was an accidental death, but was critical of the lack of control by the umpire, the roughness of the play and the fact that the medical staff did not have the right to order players from the field.[4]

An outpatient building at Fremantle Hospital was built in his honour by "his fellow sportsmen and sincere adminerers", with the foundation stone unveiled by Alick McCallum on 8 October 1933.[5][6]

References

  1. ^ "Death of R O Doig. An Irreparable Loss". The West Australian. Perth. 20 September 1932. p. 14. Retrieved 20 September 2013 – via National Library of Australia.
  2. ^ "Western Australia v South Australia 1926/27". CricketArchive.
  3. ^ "Western Australia v South Africans 1931/32". CricketArchive.
  4. ^ ""SACRIFICED"; Ron Doig's Death; Finding of Accident". The Daily News. Vol. LI, no. 17, 977. Western Australia. 24 October 1932. p. 6 (Home Edition). Retrieved 22 July 2016 – via National Library of Australia.
  5. ^ "R. Doig Memorial Ward". Fremantle Advocate. Vol. 3. Western Australia. 5 October 1933. p. 5. Retrieved 1 January 2024 – via National Library of Australia.
  6. ^ Foundation stone of Ron Doig Block, Fremantle Hospital, January 2024
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