BIO

Frank von Doussa enjoyed a short but sweet flirtation with Norwood before rejoining his younger brother Stan at the Mount Barker Football Club.

Frank was 20 when he made his Norwood debut against the Natives in 1895.  Norwood was untroubled in winning 11.9 to 2.4 and Frank played a “fine game” according to ‘Follower’ in The Mount Barker and Onkaparinga and Gumeracha Advertiser of 26 July 1895.

A week later Norwood was expected to play at Adelaide Oval, but Port Adelaide switched the match to Alberton – a decision it must have regretted, said The South Australian Register, because only 1,000 spectators turned up instead of a prospective 4,000 to 5,000 at the main venue.  Usually a slow starter, Norwood began brilliantly and posted three goals in eight minutes, “the outcome of some of the most perfect passing and unity ever seen”, said the Register.  Speedy Frank kicked that third goal.  The Magentas came back hard but their inaccuracy enabled Norwood to hang on for a 5.3 to 3.8 victory. Frank again made the best players but his career at Norwood was over.

Frank’s father, Louis, informed Norwood that his son was not available for the next match, against South Adelaide, because he had promised to play with Mount Barker.  Frank and Stan continued to represent Mount Barker at football and cricket, though Stan may have played a game for Norwood against West Adelaide in 1897.

Frank was born on 5 February 1875, the elder son of lawyer Louis von Doussa and his wife Agnes, née Bowman. Three other children, Stan, Ethel and Olive, reached adulthood.  Educated at St Peter’s College and Roseworthy Agricutural College, Frank became the head stock auctioneer with Elder, Smith & Co. He married Miss Egerton Warburton and they had three children, William Louis, Frederick and Margaret.  Frank was 53 when he died at Strathalbyn on 31 October 1928 after a protracted illness.

P. Robins, C. Brown, M. Giles August 2026