John Todd, one of the most influential figures in WA football history, has died at the age of 86.

Todd, who coached the West Coast Eagles for the 1988 and 1989 seasons, made his name in the Western Australian Football League (WAFL), first as a star player and later as a successful coach.

He burst onto the scene, debuting for South Fremantle’s senior side as a 16-year-old in 1955.

He enjoyed a magical first year, taking out the Sandover Medal for the league’s best and fairest player.

Tragically, he was just 17 when a serious knee injury severely curtailed what could have been one of the greatest careers of all time.

Despite the injury, he managed to go on to play 132 games for South Fremantle and nine for Western Australia.

In 1961, he was part of a WA side that won the Australian championships and was judged an All Australian.

He began coaching South Fremantle as player coach in 1959, at the age of 20, and by the time his coaching career had ended in 2001 he had coached six premierships, one for East Fremantle and five for Swan Districts.

He also coached the West Coast Eagles to their first finals appearance, in 1988, when they were beaten in a thriller by Melbourne.

He was sacked as coach of West Coast at the end of 1989.

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