Don Star

{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=July 2016}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Don Star

| image =

| fullname = Donald Malcolm Star

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1931|09|05|df=y}}

| birth_place =

| death_date =

| death_place =

| originalteam = Granya, Wodonga

| height = 178 cm

| weight = 82 kg

| position =

| statsend = 1955

| years1 = 1954–55

| club1 = {{AFL SM}}

| games_goals1 = 20 (16)

| careerhighlights =

}}

Donald Malcolm Star (born 5 September 1931) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).{{cite book |title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 |last=Holmesby|first=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim |year=2014 |edition=10th |isbn=978-1-921496-32-5 |publisher=BAS Publishing |location=Seaford, Victoria |page=843}}

Star made his debut for Granya as a 13 year old in 1945 and played in back to back Tallangatta & District Football League premierships with Granya in 1946{{cite web |title=1946 - Granya win Premiership |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263483420 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=26 August 2021 |pages=5 |date=2 September 1946}} and 1947.{{cite web |title=1947 - GRANYA WINS DISTRICT PENNANT |url=https://trove.nla.gov.au/newspaper/article/263544430 |publisher=Border Morning Mail (Albury, NSW) |access-date=1 November 2021 |pages=4 |date=1 September 1947}} Star then played with Wodonga in the Ovens & Murray Football League from 1950 to 1952, then returned to play with Granya in 1953, before moving down to play with South Melbourne in 1954 and 1955.

Star returned home to work on the family farm and played with Wodonga under Des Healey, before accepting the role as captain-coach of Jindera in the Hume Football League. Star ended up playing 124 senior games for Wodonga FC before playing with Jindera.{{cite web |title=Wodonga FC - Senior games |url=https://websites.mygameday.app/club_info.cgi?c=0-6190-80838-513726-20143524&sID=119145 |website=Wodonga FNC |publisher=Wodonga FNC |access-date=31 October 2021}} Star lead them to the 1960 and 1961 premierships. Star then played in two more Jindera premierships in 1963 and 1964 under coach, Bill Barton. All up, Star estimates he would play more than 350 senior games during his career.{{cite web |author1=Brent Godde |title=Star recalls horrific crash killing three |url=https://www.bordermail.com.au/story/7488909/star-recalls-horrific-crash-killing-three/?cs=11 |publisher=Border Mail newspaper |access-date=29 October 2021 |pages=102 |date=30 October 2021}}