Bill Morris (Australian rules footballer)

Bill Morris
Personal information
Full name James William McClaren Morris
Date of birth (1921-04-24)24 April 1921
Place of birth Culcairn, New South Wales
Date of death 25 May 1960(1960-05-25) (aged 39)
Place of death Malvern East, Victoria
Original team(s) Old Scotch / Melbourne Seconds
Height 188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 86 kg (190 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1942–1951 Richmond 140 (98)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1951.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

James William McLaren "Bill" Morris (24 April 1921 – 25 May 1960) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Richmond in the Victorian Football League (VFL), mostly during the 1940s. He played much of his football beside Jack Dyer as a knock ruckman.

Morris started his career with the Melbourne reserve team but before he could make an impression he decided to join the army. He returned to football in 1942 and was traded to Richmond[1] and made his senior debut that year. In 1945 he won the first of his three Best and Fairest awards, the others coming in 1948 and 1950.

Morris won the Brownlow Medalist in 1948, joining Stan Judkins as the only Richmond players to win the Medal to that time. He polled well in other Brownlow Medal nights, finishing equal second in 1946 and equal third in 1950. He was a regular Victorian interstate representative, playing a total of 15 games and captaining the state in 1950. He was also captain of Richmond, leading the club in 1950 and 1951.

On 3 April 1950 Morris married Jill Tolley, of Adelaide's wealthy Tolley family.[2]

At the end of the 1951 season Morris left Richmond and joined VFA Club Box Hill as captain-coach. He captain-coached Box Hill from 1952 to 1954, winning the Club's Best and Fairest each season. He played 58 games for Box Hill and scored 101 goals.

Morris's story is perhaps the most tragic of all Brownlow Medallists; in 1960 he committed suicide at the age of 39.[3]

In 2002 Morris was inducted into the Richmond Hall of Fame and he is also a member of their official 'Team of the Century', being named in the forward pocket. He is also a member of Box Hill's official 'Greatest Ever Team' as announced in 2000, selected as first ruck.

On 1 June 2009, Morris was inducted to the AFL Hall of Fame.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Anderson, Jon (22 May 2009). "Dees' mistake a gift for Tigers". Herald Sun.
  2. ↑ "Champion Weds". Weekly Times (4215). Victoria, Australia. 5 April 1950. p. 66. Retrieved 19 December 2017 – via National Library of Australia.
  3. ↑ "Ex-Footballer Threatened to take his life". The Age. 14 July 1960.
  4. ↑ Lane, Tim (24 May 2009). "Morris, Hands' Hall of Fame entry is poignant". The Age. Melbourne.
  • Hogan P: The Tigers Of Old, Richmond FC, Melbourne 1996
  • Richmond Football Club – Hall of Fame
  • "Fullpointsfooty profile". Archived from the original on 7 June 2011.
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