Bill McGrath
South Melbourne
AFL career
15 games18 goals
- Debut
- R1 1959 v COL18 Apr 1959
- Most recent
- R18 1959 v MEL29 Aug 1959
Stats
Bio
A vigorous and physical left-footer from Minyip in the Wimmera, Bill McGrath’s VFL career was a brief but memorable interlude in a life dedicated to the land and public service. After originally trialling with Melbourne in 1958, he returned to his family farm before being lured to South Melbourne the following season. He made an immediate impact as a tough half-forward, booting five goals against Richmond and playing in the Swans’ famous upset over reigning premiers Collingwood in Round 1. Despite a promising debut year where he missed just three games, the pull of the family farm proved too strong, and he returned to the country at the end of 1959 to captain-coach in local leagues. McGrath later became a significant figure in Victorian politics, serving as a National Party MP and state Minister for over two decades.
Profile
- Born
- 03 Dec 1936
- Died
- 22 Aug 2018 (aged 81y 262d)
- Birthplace
- Minyip, VIC
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 80 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionA vigorous and physical left-footer from Minyip in the Wimmera, Bill McGrath’s VFL career was a brief but memorable interlude in a life dedicated to the land and public service. After originally trialling with Melbourne in 1958, he returned to his family farm before being lured to South Melbourne the following season. He made an immediate impact as a tough half-forward, booting five goals against Richmond and playing in the Swans’ famous upset over reigning premiers Collingwood in Round 1. Despite a promising debut year where he missed just three games, the pull of the family farm proved too strong, and he returned to the country at the end of 1959 to captain-coach in local leagues. McGrath later became a significant figure in Victorian politics, serving as a National Party MP and state Minister for over two decades.