Ian Thorogood

DOB: 25 August, 1936
Debut: Round 3, 1957 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Semi Final 1962 against Carlton at MCG

Games: 93
Goals: 1
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
67	3	23	72.04

From: Melbourne High School

Number: 26 1957-1962

Honours:
Premiership Winner 1957, 1959, 1960
150 Heroes selection
Life Member

Thorogood, a childhood Richmond fan was desperate to play for the Tigers but was residentially tied to the Demons and they pressed their claims on him until he agreed to play in the thirds. A solid half-back player, Thorogood sat on the bench of a premiership side in his first year and played in the next three grand finals. In 1957 he graduated from the reserves early in the season and held his place for 17 games - often as a reserve - to the end of the year.

Deceptively strong for a strongly built player, Thorogood was rarely outmarked and became a regular starting XVIII player. He was one of the Demons best in the Grand Final loss to Collingwood, but that was cold comfort after playing in a side which had botched the chance to win their fourth premiership in a row.

Nevertheless he was part of an almost unbreakable defence. Opposite Geoff Case on the flank, and with the likes of John Beckwith, Tassie Johnson and Trevor Johnson the Demons were a rock solid unit. Dennis Jones and John Lord were also strong at centre-half back.

He retired from the VFL after the season 1962 at just 27 years olds to coach Waverley in the VFA. Joining them while they were second from bottom in the second division, in four years they won a first division premiership. Thorogood then followed Norm Smith to South Melbourne as assistant. After his time at South finished he returned to Waverley for a season before joining Prahran.

He quit playing at the end of 1967 and coaching midway through 1975 but accepted a job as an assistant at Carlton for 1976. When John Nicholls resigned before the season started he took over as interim coach before being appointed permanently. He remained in the job until the end of 1977.

After he left Carlton Thorogood returned to the Demons and was an Assistant to Dennis Jones in 1978 before looking after the Under 19's in 1979 and 1980. He was a match committee member in 1981.

Thorogood was elected to the board at the end of 1985.