DOB: 25 August 1936
Died: 18 March 2019
Debut: Round 3, 1957 against Essendon at MCG
Last Game: Semi Final 1962 against Carlton at MCG
From: Melbourne High School
Number: 26 1957-1962
Honours:
Premiership player 1957, 1959, 1960
Grand final team 1958
Seconds Premiership player - 1956
150 Heroes selection
Life Member - 1983
Games: 93
Goals: 1
Career Statistics
| Wins | Draws | Losses | Winning % |
| 67 | 3 | 23 | 72.04 |
Thorogood, a childhood Richmond fan was desperate to play for the Tigers but was residentially tied to the Demons, who pressed their claims on him until he agreed to play in the Thirds in 1953. He remained there for two more seasons, eventually graduating from the Reserves to the senior side in early 1957.
After breaking into a strong team, the 21-year-old Thorogood held his place for 17 games - often as a reserve - to the end of the year and was on the bench of the premiership side. He went on to play in the next three grand finals.
A deceptively strong half-back, Thorogood was rarely outmarked and became a regular player. He was one of the Demons' best in the Grand Final loss to Collingwood, and was part of a strong defence. Opposite Geoff Case on the flank, and with the likes of John Beckwith, Tassie Johnson and Trevor Johnson the Demons were a rock solid unit. Denis Jones and John Lord were also strong at centre-half back.
Thorogood retired from the VFL after 1962 at just 27 years old to coach Waverley in the VFA. He joined them while they were second from bottom in the second division, and in four years took them to a first division premiership. Thorogood then followed Norm Smith to South Melbourne as assistant. After his time at South finished he returned to Waverley for 1973 before joining Prahran.
He quit playing at the end of 1967 and coaching midway through 1975 but accepted a job as an assistant at Carlton for 1976. When John Nicholls resigned before the season started he took over as interim coach before being appointed permanently. He remained in the job until the end of 1977. After he left Carlton, Thorogood returned to the Demons and was an Assistant to Denis Jones in 1978, before looking after the Under 19s in 1979 and 1980. He was a match committee member in 1981.
Thorogood was elected to the MFC board at the end of 1985.
His father played Seconds for Richmond.
| Year | Games | Goals | Brownlow |
| 1957 | 17 | 1 | 0 |
| 1958 | 13 | 0 | 0 |
| 1959 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
| 1960 | 15 | 0 | 1 |
| 1961 | 14 | 0 | 0 |
| 1962 | 17 | 0 | 0 |
Media
Age - 13/07/1960
Age - 20/10/1977
melbournefc.com.au - 19/03/2019
Links
Blueseum profile
Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
VFA Project profile
Wikipedia profile