Ian Thorogood

Coach

Coaching Career at Carlton : 1976 -1977
Games : 46
Wins : 29
Losses : 16
Draws : 1


Assistant coach Ian Thorogood was thrust into the hot seat at Carlton on the Thursday night prior to the start of the 1976 season, when John Nicholls shocked the club by announcing his immediate retirement as senior coach. Thorogood stepped up to the position, and took the Blues to within one kick of qualifying for that year’s Grand Final.

A three-time Premiership half-back at Melbourne in 1957, 1959 and 1960, Thorogood was regarded as disciplined, reliable, brave and consistent - qualities that made him a favourite of legendary Demons coach Norm Smith. After 93 games played exclusively in defence for Melbourne, Thorogood retired from VFL football at the end of 1962 to accept the position of captain-coach at the Waverley Football Club, which had made its debut in the VFA second division in 1961.

In Thorogood's first season at the helm in 1963, Waverley lost by 11 points to Preston in the 2nd Division Grand Final, and was surprisingly rewarded by being elevated to the 1st Division for 1964. This was because Moorabbin (the 1963 1st Division Premiers) were dumped by the VFA after St Kilda announced that they were moving to the Moorabbin ground in 1965. In '65, Ian guided Waverley to defeat Port Melbourne in the 1st Division Premiership by 12 points, with their new acquisition - former Carlton player Vasil Varlamos - an outstanding contributor at centre half back. Thorogood coached Waverley to the end of 1968, and between 1969 and 1972 teamed up again with Norm Smith at South Melbourne as his assistant. In 1976 he was appointed to Princes Park as assistant to John Nicholls after Keith McKenzie stood down as the Reserves coach.

Then, with Nicholls’ shock announcement, Thorogood was shifted into the driver’s seat. He won plaudits for the way he quickly stabilised the focus of the players, however, and by mid-season, Carlton was on top of a ladder crowded on the upper rungs. Although deflated by a draw against Footscray in round 22, the Blues took out the minor premiership. Then, just a week later, we stumbled badly against Hawthorn in the Second Semi-Final, and lost by 17 points. This set up a Preliminary Final meeting with North Melbourne, and, in a classic finals match, the Roos kicked three goals to two in the last quarter to win by one point. For the second year in a row, Carlton had been bundled out of the finals by successive defeats.

Thorogood was retained in 1977, and with a group of exciting youngsters including Jim Buckley, Wayne Harmes and Ken Sheldon making their way through the ranks, the Blues were confident of climbing that one last step come finals time. Unfortunately, that chance never came. Although the Blues stayed camped in the top five for most of the season, another loss to our nemesis Footscray at the Western Oval in round 22 dropped the team to sixth place.

Carlton was out of the finals, and shortly afterward, Ian Thorogood was out of a job.

Links

Blueseum: Thorogood's Blueseum Image Gallery

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