SWAN Districts Football Club will pay homage to John Todd at their next home game at Steel Blue Oval on Saturday, June 15 against South Fremantle.

This game was already scheduled to be the John Todd Cup, which is the first Swan Districts versus South Fremantle game of the WAFL season every year.

However, this year it will now take on additional significance as both clubs celebrate the life of one of Western Australia’s sporting heroes.

Swans Hall of Fame member John Todd was elevated to club Immortal last season.

He was the club’s most successful and longest serving coach, winning four premierships over 19 seasons, 12 finals series and 424 matches.

Swan Districts Football Club vice president Andy Holmes reflected solemnly on Mr Todd’s legacy and said the upcoming game will now be a memorial to a great man who will be sadly missed.

“It’s very sad news for our club and football in WA all-round”, he said.

“His long service and success at our club was legendary.

“Those players who played under Toddy knew how uncompromising he was as a coach, but he made us all better players and more importantly better men.”

The WA Government will also support the John Todd Memorial Match between South Fremantle and the Swans and hold a state memorial service to honour the footy giant with dates and details to be confirmed.

John Todd’s first stint at Swan Districts began in 1977 and lasted until 1987 to see him coach the club in twice as many games as his nearest rival.

He returned in 1990 after a couple of years stint at West Coast Eagles and delivered his fourth premiership for the club.

He was a regular at Swan Districts home games over recent years and the club said he will be greatly missed by Swans members and supporters.