Donald Graeme Macdougall

Graeme Macdougall was a tall, rangy, mobile lock who possessed a high leaping jump in the lineout. A tough, raw-boned youngster, Macdougall had the misfortune for his career to coincide with those of three Wallaby greats, Dick Thornett, John Thornett and Rob Heming.

 

Born in Sydney, Macdougall was educated at Newington College where he played one year in the 1st XV (1958).

 

After leaving Newington, Macdougall went into First Grade at St George where his brother, Garry, played in the back row. It was there that the Macdougall came under the watchful eye of Alan Cameron (Wallaby #378). Under Cameron’s tutelage, Macdougall made such rapid progress that he was chosen to make his debut for New South Wales in the final interstate clash of 1960 against Queensland. Macdougall was given a torrid introduction to interstate football from the abrasive Don Watts but stood up to it well.

 

The following year both Heming and John Thornett were unavailable for the first Test against Fiji and Macdougall was called in to make his Test debut in Brisbane. Despite a sound first up performance, Macdougall made way, along with John O’Gorman, for the return of Thornett and Heming for the remaining Tests of the series. However, Macdougall was then named for his first Wallaby tour, to South Africa. Macdougall started in the rarefied atmosphere of Ellis Park and Australia were run off their feet to lose 3-28.

Macdougall did not win a start against the touring All Blacks in 1962 and was not selected for the Wallaby return tour to New Zealand later in the year. He did not play any representative rugby in 1963 and in 1964 followed older brother Garry’s lead in switching codes to play rugby league for Balmain. 

 

Graeme Macdougall played two Tests for Australia in a one-year international career. 

 

Highlight

 

1961

With John Thornett and Rob Heming unavailable, Macdougall won his first Test cap at lock alongside Dick Thornett in the 1st Test, 24-6 victory over Fiji in Brisbane. Both John Thornett and Heming returned for the final two Tests of that series. When Tony Miller was ruled out through injury for the first Test against South Africa at Ellis Park, John Thornett moved up to tighthead prop and Macdougall came into the side to partner Dick Thornett at lock. Miller returned to tighthead for the second Test in Port Elizabeth and John Thornett shifted to the middle row to take Macdougall’s place at lock.