Don Holmes

DOB

1/5/1959

Height

180cm

Weight

77 kg

Junior club

Swan Districts/Bassendean JFC

Arrived

Foundation signing in 1986

Number

33

Debut

Round 1 1987 vs Richmond
(7th Eagles player)

Games

23

Goals

40

B&F Top 10

0

Best Finish

Last app.

Round 22 1989 vs Collingwood

Departed

Retired at the end of the 1989 season

Other clubs

Swan Districts (WAFL) 1978-1990

A Swan Districts champion, Don Holmes was getting towards the end of his career when the VFL came to Western Australia.

West Coast career[]

Playing in a distinctive helmet, Holmes was a specialist small forward who had won back-to-back-to-back flags with the Black Ducks in 1982, ’83 and ’84. He played in the first-ever game against Richmond (kicking 2 goals) and played a total of 13 games for the season. Despite only playing a little over half the season, Holmes’ tally of 29 goals was equal second at the club behind captain Ross Glendinning. It included a bag of 7 against the Bears late in the year, which was a club record at the time (although it was equalled by Chris Lewis two weeks later).

Unfortunately Holmes’ history of injuries had started to catch up with him. He played just 6 games for 6 goals in 1988, and 4 games for 5 goals in 1989 before announcing his retirement from VFL footy at the age of 30.

Post-VFL career[]

Holmes continued with the Swans for one more season, winning a fourth WAFL premiership in 1990 before calling an end to his illustrious career. He was named on the bench in Swan Districts’ Team of the 20th Century.

Holmes is the chairman of footwear manufacturer Steel Blue, which maintains Holmes’ lifelong link with Swans in its naming-rights sponsorship of Bassendean Oval.