Bill Proudfoot

William Henry 'Bill' Proudfoot (11 June 1868 – 11 January 1931)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Collingwood Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and Victorian Football Association (VFA).[2]

Bill Proudfoot
Proudfoot during his Collingwood career
Personal information
Full name William Henry Proudfoot
Date of birth 11 June 1868
Place of birth Kilmore, Victoria
Date of death 11 January 1931(1931-01-11) (aged 62)
Place of death Richmond, Victoria
Original team(s) Britannia
Height 184 cm (6 ft 0 in)
Weight 102 kg (225 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1892–1896 Collingwood (VFA) 79 (1)
1897–1906 Collingwood 108 (0)
Total 187 (1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1906.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Bill is the uncle of Collingwood player Norm Crewther, and the third great uncle of the former Federal Member for Dunkley, Chris Crewther MP.

Background

A solidly built fullback, Proudfoot was a member of Collingwood's inaugural VFA side in 1892. He became the first-ever Collingwood player to represent Victoria when selected to play against South Australia in 1894. Proudfoot was involved in an infamous incident during a game for Collingwood against North Melbourne in July 1896 when at half-time a riot occurred with the crowd invading the field and turning on the umpire Roberts.[3] Proudfoot, while attempting to stop the umpire from getting injured, was himself badly beaten in the melee.[4]

Following the formation of the Victorian Football League in 1897, Proudfoot was Collingwood captain in 1898 and also had the role for the latter half of 1899 and in 1901. Proudfoot played in Collingwood's first two VFL premiership winning sides; in 1902 and 1903.

Off the football field Proudfoot was a police constable and was banned from playing football by his commissioner. He continued to play however under an assumed name.

References
  1. "Bill Proudfoot". Collingwood Forever. Retrieved 27 August 2014.
  2. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Bas Publishing. p. 722. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  3. Atkinson, pp. 11-12.
  4. McClure, Geoff (21 March 2005). "Sporting Life". The Age. Retrieved 10 January 2011.

Sources
  • Atkinson, G. (1982) Everything you ever wanted to know about Australian rules football but couldn't be bothered asking, The Five Mile Press: Melbourne. ISBN 0 86788 009 0.
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