Roach, a left footed flanker, played his early football at SANFL club West Adelaide, for whom he debuted in 1958 and won the SANFL premiership in 1961.
In 1966 he returned to West Adelaide and was appointed captain-coach.
After taking a break from the game in 1969 Roach returned to action the following season at his new club Norwood where he would finish his career.
When Roach retired in 1972 his final tally of games in the SANFL amounted to 204 and he also represented South Australia on nine occasions.
Don Roach was an inaugural member of the South Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2002, and he is also a member of the West Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame.