Erwin Dornau
South Melbourne · “Doe”
AFL career
54 games8 goals
- Debut
- R1 1948 v RCH17 Apr 1948
- Most recent
- R15 1952 v RCH2 Aug 1952
Stats
Bio
Hailing from Kedron in Brisbane, Erwin Dornau was a pioneering figure as the first born-and-bred Queenslander to play in the VFL. He caught the eye of South Melbourne scouts after a standout performance at the 1947 Hobart Carnival, where he finished runner-up for the Tassie Medal. Arriving at the Lake Oval in 1948, he quickly established himself as a powerful centre half-back and occasional ruckman, known for his imposing physical presence and rare ability to kick long with either foot. While his debut season yielded impressive Brownlow votes, his professional career was severely hampered by a recurring knee injury that cost him two prime seasons. Despite these setbacks, Dornau returned to serve as deputy captain in his final year, retiring as a highly respected clubman and a groundbreaker for interstate talent.
Profile
- Born
- 22 Mar 1926
- Died
- 23 Sept 2008 (aged 82y 185d)
- Birthplace
- Brisbane, QLD
- Deathplace
- Melbourne, VIC
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 86 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionHailing from Kedron in Brisbane, Erwin Dornau was a pioneering figure as the first born-and-bred Queenslander to play in the VFL. He caught the eye of South Melbourne scouts after a standout performance at the 1947 Hobart Carnival, where he finished runner-up for the Tassie Medal. Arriving at the Lake Oval in 1948, he quickly established himself as a powerful centre half-back and occasional ruckman, known for his imposing physical presence and rare ability to kick long with either foot. While his debut season yielded impressive Brownlow votes, his professional career was severely hampered by a recurring knee injury that cost him two prime seasons. Despite these setbacks, Dornau returned to serve as deputy captain in his final year, retiring as a highly respected clubman and a groundbreaker for interstate talent.