Doug Morpeth started his formal football career when the Swan Hill Football Club was formed in 1946. Prior to this he had only played school football and scratch matches, as there was no formal competition during the war. He was a member of Swan Hill Football Clubs first premiership in 1950 Vs Tooleybuc, where he kicked the last goal of the game which put the Swans in front. He won Swan Hill’s Senior Best & Fairest, in 1952. In 1953 he married Janet McFadyen (daughter of Woorinen FC president Frank McFadyen) and moved to Woorinen working on the family grape farm.
Doug commenced his career at Woorinen in 1954, winning the Senior best & Fairest awards in 1955 and 1958 – primarily playing centre. Doug was forced to retire in the early 1960’s following a couple of serious injuries.
Doug was an active member of the Mid Murray football league – In 1961 he was heavily involved in the formation and introduction of the Under 17 football. To launch the concept Doug coached our initial team and in 1962 they won the premiership under his guidance, where he continued to coach this team until the late 1960’s.
In 1967, Doug and Lake Boga school teacher Peter Thomas, initiated moves to form an U14 grade. After an unofficial season in 1967, the official Under 14 competition started in 1968 with Doug coaching the boys to the inaugural premiership, including coaching son Peter to his first football premiership.
As well as being a life member of our club, Doug is also a life member of the Mid Murray/Central Murray League. He was our club delegate at league level for almost 20 years and was Vice President of the mid Murray Football league for 5 seasons when the league was run via a club delegate system.
He was presented with the annual league Personality of The Year award in 1988 in recognition of his service.
Just prior to the 1968 season both of our senior grades didn’t have a coach. A deputation led by Len Butler, approached Doug about taking on these coaching roles. Having already committed to the junior grades he did not want to relinquish these positions, but the future of the club hung in the balance, so he said yes, and so ended up coaching all four teams during the 1968 season. In 1969 John Hosking returned to the club as coach so Doug became his right hand man as head selector and bench assistant. It was the beginnings of the golden era in the club’s history.
Doug was a long-time committee man and eventually took on the Presidency in 1975 where he continued for six seasons and then returned for a further three years 1982, 83, and 84. His nine years is the longest term in that position in our club’s history.
He also served a further 20+ years on the general committee, he played a combined total of 255 games for the Swan Hill and Woorinen Football Clubs.
Doug was supported by wife Janet who assisted in allowing Doug to have a high level of participation whilst looking after the children, Peter, Deb and Nicholas.
Congratulations Doug on your fantastic service to the Woorinen Football Club and your induction to the Hall of Fame
