When the West Coast Eagles won their first three premierships club doctor Rod Moore was not among the group presented with a premiership medal. But without him many of those celebrated stars would not have enjoyed the pinnacle of their careers.

Moore, club doctor for 26 years, was a vital cog in the Eagles machine. A leader in the field of sports medicine whose vast knowledge, attention to detail and empathy fast-tracked so many players on the road to recovery from injury.

Sadly Rod passed away last week after losing his own battle with cancer.

He bravely beat the disease the first time around but when it returned aggressively in recent months he could not win the second bout.

Doc Moore, who ran sports medicine practices at both St John of Gods in Subiaco and at Murdoch Hospital, always had a passion for sport – especially football and golf and along with the Eagles his heart belonged to WAFL club South Fremantle.

He shared the duties as club doctor with Ken Fitch, himself a luminary in the sports medicine field and highly acclaimed within the Olympic movement, from 1986 to 2001. In 2012 Rod, a life member, decided to step away from the role – at least in the formal sense.

While his primary responsibility at the club was to help expedite the return of players from injury he was also a valued confidante to many inside the club who did not occupy the locker room.

Myriad staff members benefited from his wisdom and counsel. I was among them, falling ill about five years ago. It was reasonably serious and having Rod to lean on and guide me through the process was precious.

He was a highly valued and respected member of the Eagles family who might not have received the public accolades of those he treated, but he was a star.

Vale Rod Moore.

#Rod’s funeral service will be held at Christ Church Grammar School at 1pm next Friday, October 6.