George Doig

(1913-2006)

George Doig ( 1913 -2006) was the most famous member of the Doig sporting family, legends of the East Fremantle Football Club.

Doig was born on 25 May 1913 to Charles George Alexander Doig and his wife, Isabella Brand Doig (née Miller), at their residence at 30 Howard Street, Fremantle. He had an elder sister Linda (b 1910) and a younger brother, Charles (1912-1944).

Doig married Margaret Jean Mossman on Saturday, 21 August 1937, at the Old Scots Church in Fremantle. He and his brother,Charlie, who acted as best man, had both played for East Fremantle against Swan Districts at Fremantle Oval, on the same day as the wedding,

Doig, an Australian rules footballer kicked 1095 goals during his 202 game career, playing almost exclusively as a forward, and became East Fremantle's leading goal kicker of all-time. He also coached the East Fremantle Football Club in the Western Australian National Football League (WANFL).

His father Charles Doig and brother Charles Jnr also played for East Fremantle Football Club and both Charles Jr. and George went on to captain East Fremantle teams.

The East Fremantle Football club has posted information about the Doig Family on their website including a Statement by WA’s Premier Älan Carpenter:

“His father, Charles Alexander Doig, was one of five brothers who played for East Fremantle Football Club. Charles Doig not only played in 11 grand finals for East Fremantle, but also served as president of the club from 1924 to 1936. One of George’s uncles, James Alexander Doig, also represented Western Australia in its first interstate match in 1904. However, in this family of football legends – and the word “legend” is not used lightly – George Doig managed to rise to an even higher plane with his on-field exploits. In fact, these days the term “superstar” would be an insult to him. Such were his youthful talents that in one game, while playing in the South Suburban Football Association competition in 1931, he kicked his team’s entire score of 26 goals 21 points, a feat that I believe can only be described as astonishing. Not long after, and not surprisingly, East Fremantle recruited him…Fittingly, George Doig was made a member of the Australian Football League’s Hall of Fame in 2002 and was inducted as an inaugural legend of the West Australian Football League’s Hall of Fame in 2004. The Fremantle Dockers should also be congratulated for naming their fairest and best award the Doig Medal”. (reference)

In 1988, Doig underwent open heart surgery He died at his home in Bicton on 27 November 2006, at the age of 93.