Bill Aldag
Collingwood and Footscray
AFL career
11 games0 goals
- Debut
- R12 1928 v SME7 July 1928
- Most recent
- R10 1931 v ESS11 July 1931
Stats
Bio
A butcher by trade, Bill Aldag arrived at Victoria Park after a brief, two-game stint with Footscray and time in the VFA. Standing 183cm with broad shoulders, he was a rugged follower and forward who thrived on heavy "bullocking" work and physical contests. His football legacy is defined by a bold selection gamble during the 1930 finals series; after playing just two games for the Magpies and being omitted for the semi-final, he was recalled by Jock McHale for the Grand Final to inject necessary aggression into a weary side. The move proved decisive, seeing Aldag win a premiership medallion in the club’s historic fourth consecutive flag. Though his VFL career concluded the following season, his reputation for indomitable spirit was later cemented off the field, where he survived the horrors of the Burma Railway as a prisoner of war.
Profile
- Born
- 30 Nov 1905
- Died
- 10 Nov 1974 (aged 68y 345d)
- Birthplace
- Fitzroy North, VIC
- Deathplace
- Heidelberg, VIC
- Height
- 183 cm
- Weight
- 85 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership1930
Bio
1 revisionA butcher by trade, Bill Aldag arrived at Victoria Park after a brief, two-game stint with Footscray and time in the VFA. Standing 183cm with broad shoulders, he was a rugged follower and forward who thrived on heavy "bullocking" work and physical contests. His football legacy is defined by a bold selection gamble during the 1930 finals series; after playing just two games for the Magpies and being omitted for the semi-final, he was recalled by Jock McHale for the Grand Final to inject necessary aggression into a weary side. The move proved decisive, seeing Aldag win a premiership medallion in the club’s historic fourth consecutive flag. Though his VFL career concluded the following season, his reputation for indomitable spirit was later cemented off the field, where he survived the horrors of the Burma Railway as a prisoner of war.