Bill Adams (Australian footballer)
Encyclopedia
William 'Bill' Adams was an Australian rules football
er who played for Fitzroy
and Melbourne
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) before becoming coach of South Melbourne
. He also went by his nickname of 'Bull' during his career.
Adams was originally from South Fremantle
where he played 32 games from his debut in 1921. In his first season he was included in the Western Australian squad for the Perth Carnival
but did not manage a game. Adams joined VFL club Fitzroy in 1924 and played in the side which contested the finals that season. He was club captain for their 1926 campaign and as well as finishing equal fifth in the Brownlow Medal count he represented Victoria at interstate football that year. A tough and physical player, Adams spent most of his time in defence but was also used on the ball.
In 1927 he left Fitzroy and joined Northcote
in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA). Adams then played with Preston
for two seasons. He had his best year with them in 1929 when he won both their Best and Fairest
award and kicked 69 goals to top their goal kicking.
Adams then moved to Tasmania for the 1930 season, being playing coach of North Launceston
in the NTFA
competition.
After spending the first half of the 1931 football season as playing coach of Prahran
, Adams returned to the VFL and signed up with Melbourne where he would play until his retirement at the end of the 1932 season.
His coaching career peaked in 1945 when he was appointed coach of South Melbourne and steered them to the 1945 VFL Grand Final
. South Melbourne lost the game and despite remaining with them for another three years he wasn't able to qualify the club for another finals series and after finishing tenth in 1948 was replaced by Jack Hale
.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played for Fitzroy
Fitzroy Football Club
The Fitzroy Football Club, formerly nicknamed The Lions, is an Australian rules football club formed in 1883 to represent the inner Melbourne suburb of Fitzroy, Victoria and was a foundation member club of the Victorian Football League on its inception in 1897...
and Melbourne
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL) before becoming coach of South Melbourne
Sydney Swans
The Sydney Swans Football Club is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based in Sydney, New South Wales. The club, founded in 1874, was known as the South Melbourne Football Club until it relocated to Sydney in 1982 to become the Sydney...
. He also went by his nickname of 'Bull' during his career.
Adams was originally from South Fremantle
South Fremantle Football Club
The South Fremantle Football Club, nicknamed the Bulldogs, is an Australian rules football club, based in Fremantle, Western Australia, playing in the West Australian Football League...
where he played 32 games from his debut in 1921. In his first season he was included in the Western Australian squad for the Perth Carnival
1921 Perth Carnival
The 1921 Perth Carnival was the fourth edition of the Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition...
but did not manage a game. Adams joined VFL club Fitzroy in 1924 and played in the side which contested the finals that season. He was club captain for their 1926 campaign and as well as finishing equal fifth in the Brownlow Medal count he represented Victoria at interstate football that year. A tough and physical player, Adams spent most of his time in defence but was also used on the ball.
In 1927 he left Fitzroy and joined Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA). Adams then played with Preston
Northern Bullants
Northern Blues Football Club is a long-established Australian rules football club based in Preston and currently playing in the Victorian Football League representing the central and outer areas of Melbourne...
for two seasons. He had his best year with them in 1929 when he won both their Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest
Best and Fairest is the term commonly used in Australian sport to describe the player adjudged to have had the best performance in a game or over a season for a given sporting club or competition while not receiving a suspension for misconduct or breaching the rules during that season.In the...
award and kicked 69 goals to top their goal kicking.
Adams then moved to Tasmania for the 1930 season, being playing coach of North Launceston
North Launceston Football Club
The North Launceston Football Club is an Australian rules football club based in Launceston, Tasmania. Australia. Since 2009 they have played in the newly formed Tasmanian State League.-History:...
in the NTFA
Northern Tasmanian Football Association (1886 - 1986)
The Northern Tasmanian Football Association was an Australian rules football competition which ran from 1886 to 1986. In its time it was one of the three main leagues in Tasmania, with the Tasmanian Football League and North West Football Union representing the rest of the state...
competition.
After spending the first half of the 1931 football season as playing coach of Prahran
Prahran Football Club
Prahran Football Club, nicknamed The Two Blues, is an Australian rules football club based at Toorak Park in Orrong Road between High Street and Malvern Road, Armadale, in Melbourne, Victoria, Australia. Since 2007, the club has competed in D1 Section of the Victorian Amateur Football Association...
, Adams returned to the VFL and signed up with Melbourne where he would play until his retirement at the end of the 1932 season.
His coaching career peaked in 1945 when he was appointed coach of South Melbourne and steered them to the 1945 VFL Grand Final
1945 VFL Grand Final
The 1945 VFL Grand Final was an Australian rules football game contested between the South Melbourne Football Club and Carlton Football Club, held at Princes Park in Melbourne on 29 September 1945. It was the 49th annual Grand Final of the Victorian Football League, staged to determine the premiers...
. South Melbourne lost the game and despite remaining with them for another three years he wasn't able to qualify the club for another finals series and after finishing tenth in 1948 was replaced by Jack Hale
Jack Hale
Jack Hale is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Carlton in the VFL during the 1940s before becoming a coach....
.