BIO

Doug Drage commenced his football career with the Norwood Colts and was named the best all round player in the Senior Colts of 1939.

By-passing the Reserves, Drage made his league debut in the opening round of the 1940 season. He was named as the rover in the first ruck against West Torrens.
 
The pacy left-footer played most of his career as a rover, resting in the forward pocket or on a half forward flank.
 
During World War II he served with the RAAF and missed four years of football from 1942 to 1945.

Re-commencing his career in 1946, he played in five grand finals over six seasons.
 
He shared the roving duties with Jack Oatey, in Norwood's 1946 premiership win over Port Adelaide and was again second rover to Oatey in the Redlegs' 1948 triumph over West Torrens. He booted three goals, and was high in the best player's list. He received the Player's Five Year Certificate, in recognition of his services, at the end of the year.
 
In the 1950 premiership team, Drage played as a third rover, with Oatey and Peter Tilbrook, changing on a half forward flank. He was named the team's best all-round player for the year. During the season he travelled to Renmark with the third State Eighteen team that played against the Upper Murray Association.
 
He was awarded Life Membership in 1951, took a season off, but returned in 1952.
 
Drage also played in two losing grand finals. He was a solid player in Norwood's 1947 grand final loss to West Adelaide. In what proved to be his last league game, Drage suffered a broken nose in the 1952 decider against North Adelaide. He had gone into the game with a fractured jaw, sustained in the preliminary final the previous week.
 
In his final season, he played his 100th game and was named the team's most consistent player.
 
After retiring as a player, Doug Drage coached Norwood's Junior Colts in 1954 and 1955.

R Cialini Jan 2015