Bill Cleary
Fitzroy · “Bice”
AFL career
21 games6 goals
- Debut
- R5 1897 v COL5 June 1897
- Most recent
- GF 1899 v SME16 Sept 1899
Stats
Bio
Recruited from South Ballarat, Bill Cleary was a Fitzroy stalwart whose career bridged the club's transition from the VFA to the VFL. He established himself as a key leader during the Maroons' VFA dominance, playing in the 1895 premiership side and serving as the club's inaugural VFL captain in 1897. Though he relinquished the leadership to Alec Sloan the following season and appeared finished at the top level, Cleary’s career enjoyed a remarkable curtain call in 1899. When teammate Chris Kiernan failed to arrive for the Grand Final against South Melbourne, the veteran was a frantic late inclusion, stepping into the forward pocket to win a VFL premiership in his final senior game.
Profile
- Born
- 20 Feb 1868
- Died
- 27 Jan 1942 (aged 73y 341d)
- Birthplace
- Ballarat East, VIC
- Deathplace
- Kew, VIC
- Height
- 177 cm
- Weight
- 68 kg
Teams
Honours
- Premiership1899
- Fitzroy captain1897
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from South Ballarat, Bill Cleary was a Fitzroy stalwart whose career bridged the club's transition from the VFA to the VFL. He established himself as a key leader during the Maroons' VFA dominance, playing in the 1895 premiership side and serving as the club's inaugural VFL captain in 1897. Though he relinquished the leadership to Alec Sloan the following season and appeared finished at the top level, Cleary’s career enjoyed a remarkable curtain call in 1899. When teammate Chris Kiernan failed to arrive for the Grand Final against South Melbourne, the veteran was a frantic late inclusion, stepping into the forward pocket to win a VFL premiership in his final senior game.