Bill Morris (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
William "Bill" Morris was an Australian rules football
er 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 with Richmond 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 Medal
ist in 1948, joining Stan Judkins
as the only Richmond player to win the Medal at 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.
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 Medal
lists; in 1960 he took his own life at the age of 38.
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.
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 Richmond
Richmond Football Club
The Richmond Football Club, nicknamed The Tigers, is an Australian rules football club which competes in the Australian Football League. Richmond shares healthy rivalries with Carlton, Collingwood and Essendon. After winning five premierships between 1967 and 1980, the club hit the depths in 1990,...
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), mostly during the 1940s. He played much of his football beside Jack Dyer
Jack Dyer
John Raymond Dyer Sr. OAM , always known as Jack Dyer, was one of the colossal figures of Australian rules football during two distinct careers, firstly as a player and coach of the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1931 and 1952, and later in the broadcast media for...
as a knock ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
.
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 with Richmond and made his senior debut that year. In 1945 he won the first of his three Best and Fairest
Jack Dyer Medal
The Jack Dyer Medal is an Australian rules football award given each season to the player or players adjudged Best and Fairest for the Richmond Football Club....
awards, the others coming in 1948 and 1950.
Morris won the Brownlow Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
ist in 1948, joining Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins
Stan Judkins was an Australian rules footballer who played for the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League between 1928 and 1936. He became the first Richmond player to win the game's most prestigious award, the Brownlow Medal.Judkins played his junior football as a rover for...
as the only Richmond player to win the Medal at 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.
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 Medal
Brownlow Medal
The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...
lists; in 1960 he took his own life at the age of 38.
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
Forward pocket
In Australian rules football, the forward pocket refers to a position on the field deep in offense.Forward pocket players, situated in the forward line, need to have good avoidance and goal sneak skills and usually, quality forward-pockets are noted for their agility and ability to score difficult...
. 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.