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At 162 cm tall Danny Ling has been arguably the shortest player to have played TFL football, but what could not be argued is that he was one of the bravest and best rovers Glenorchy has produced.
Cockroach as Danny is affectionately known earned the nickname because of his ability to make a pest of himself to the opposition sides by burrowing into packs and then scurrying away with the ball.
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He joined Glenorchy in 1976 from amateur club Claremont and led the senior team to a premiership in 1985 giving the club back to back premierships.
He captained the Club for five seasons from 1983 to 1987 and was coach from 1985 to 1987 winning two premierships and being runners up once.
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Danny Ling holding up the 1985 TFL premiership cup after Glenorchy 10.15.75 defeated Clarence by four points 10.11.71.
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When he took over the reins as coach of Glenorchy in December 1984 many sceptics described him as a caretaker coach, someone to fill in until someone else with better credentials came along. However, nine months later, he was chaired from North Hobart Oval by elated team mates and supporters as a premiership coach in his first season.
There was some doubt as to whether the Magpies could sustain the pressure throughout a tight game.
But Ling was quoted " after the way we slugged it out all day nobody could say Glenorchy could not handle pressure. " |
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Just before time on in the last quarter Glenorchy had it all wrapped up leading by 15 points but, not to be denied, Clarence hit back and with two quick goals the game became up for grabs. It was a hard, mauling and often fiery encounter marked by several ugly incidents that had the 16,561 strong crowd roaring throughout. David Pearce hit a purple patch for Glenorchy in the third quarter and it was felt that this was the difference where the game was won or lost for the respective sides. Pearce kicked seven goals five behinds out of a total of ten goals 15.
Glenorchy may have relaxed in the last few minutes of the game and a sigh of relief was prominent after the siren sounded with the ball in Clarence's forward pocket.
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In 1986 Danny Ling masterminded a superb win as captain/coach to take the grand final spoils from Sandy bay in a particularly spiteful and fiery match resulting in eight Sandy Bay players and one Glenorchy player being reported.
Ling made clever moves off the bench with a team of completely disciplined players who were too talented on the day.
When the final siren sounded it meant that the Glenorchy club had made history because the Magpies completed the quadrella with the seniors, reserves, third and fourths all winning in an achievement that has never occurred at any other Tasmanian football club.
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 The victorious 1986 TFL premiers - Glenorchy - at North Hobart Oval on grand final day.
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In an era where footballers change clubs often, he stuck with the Magpies resisting offers to join rival teams.He played in and captained the state team and has assisted in the coaching of local players involved in state origin games.
Since 1987, Danny has maintained his involvement with the Glenorchy District Football Club, including bench coach of the victorious 1999 premiership side.
Danny Ling was selected in Glenorchy's Team of the Century which was announced in August 2000.
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