BIO
Garry McIntosh will always be remembered as an exceptionally loyal Norwood footballer and clubman.
Strong, uncompromising and with raw courage, "Macca" also possessed sublime skills with hand and foot. These qualities helped to make him one of the most popular footballers in the club's history.
McIntosh joined Norwood from the Hope Valley Football Club in 1979 as a member of the Under 15 special talent squad. He was recruited to the club by former Norwood stalwart Ross Porritt.
He first came to prominence when he won the SANFL's McCallum Medal, as the best and fairest player in the 1981 Under 17's competition. In his second year of Under 17's he also captained the side to a premiership as well as winning the team's best and fairest award. Earlier in the year, he represented South Australia in the Teal Cup championships in Melbourne when he played all three games in the back-pocket. He had previously travelled to Perth, as amember of the North/Torrens Under 16 team.
McIntosh made his League debut for the Redlegs as a 17 year old, the following season. His early football was as a rover, half-forward or centreman. The fearless left-footer was high in Norwood's best players, as it easily defeated
Glenelg in the 1982 Grand Final; he played 22 senior games during the season, and was named best first year player. He was then selected by North Melbourne in the 1982 VFL Draft, but chose to remain at the Parade.
In 1983 he made his interstate debut for South Australia, and in 1984 was an integral part of Norwood's "History-makers", which saw the Redlegs come from fifth spot at the end of the minor round to win the premiership, against arch-rivals Port Adelaide.
During 1984 he represented South Australia against Victoria and Western Australia, gained All-Australian selection, and then played for Australia in a three Test International Rules Series against Ireland in Ireland. In 1986 he played in the return series in Australia.
Having already finished runner-up in the club's 1985 best and fairest, McIntosh was named Club Champion in 1987. He played 24 senior games for the year, taking his career total to 152. He also polled the most Magarey Medal votes, but a mid-season indiscretion made him ineligible for the award. He continued to play interstate football, and during the season was a member of the South Australia team that was crowned Champions of Australia. "Macca" was again a significant contributor when South Australia retained the Champions of Australia title the following year, South Australia defeating Victoria in the final of the bi-centennial State of Origin Championships.
Injury restricted him to only 12 games in 1989 but he was named club captain for the first time in 1990, and was to continue in that role for the next eight seasons. He played 20 games in 1990, thus reaching his 200 game milestone.
1991 saw the SANFL landscape change forever, with the advent of the Adelaide Crows. Luckily for Norwood supporters, "Macca" refused all overtures to join the expanded VFL competition, and remained at the Parade. He won the club's best and fairest, and was awarded the Woods Medal and Player Life Membership. Although he polled the second most votes in the Magarey Medal, he was again ineligible.
In 1993, he captained the side in a losing Grand Final against Woodville-West Torrens at Football Park. After a series of near misses, McIntosh's consistency and brilliance in the SANFL was finally recognised in 1994 and 1995 when the Norwood dynamo won back-to-back Magarey Medals.
McIntosh was runner-up in the 1995 club best and fairest award, and played his 300th match against Woodville-West Torrens on July 1,1995 on the Woodville Oval. Somewhat fittingly, Norwood marked the occasion by recording its biggest ever winning margin (158 points).
The following season he was runner-up in the best and fairest for the third time in a row. Continuing to captain the club, he unfortunately was forced to miss the 1997 Grand Final victory against Port Adelaide, through suspension.
In 1997 he had captained the victorious SA team against the Australian Capital Territory in Canberra. The South Australian team included a record 10 Norwood players.
An excellent performer at interstate level throughout his career, he represented South Australia on 12 occasions, captained the side in 1992, 1995 and 1997, and was awarded the Fos Williams Medal as South Australia's best player, on three occasions.
1998 was to be McIntosh's last season as a player in the SANFL. He made another 20 appearances for the Redlegs, finishing as the club's record holder with 371 games. After 17 memorable and inspiring seasons, mainly as a midfielder, the club legend retired as a player in the SANFL.
He had a season at the Parade as an assistant coach in 1999, before moving to Tasmania, where he was player/coach for North Launceston in 2000 and 2001. The Bombers played off in the Grand Final in his first year. "Macca" also added another 19 senior games whilst coaching his new club - three in the Tasmanian Statewide League, and another 16 in the Northern Tasmanian Football League.
McIntosh returned to the Parade and coached the Norwood Football Club from 2002 to 2004, the club finishing third in his first season.
Since 2005 he has been senior coach of the Payneham Norwood Union Football Club (South Australian Amateur Football League) where he has guided the club through promotion to Division 1.
R Cialini April 2017