Billy Spears
Collingwood and Carlton
AFL career
7 games1 goals
- Debut
- SR3 1901 v SME24 Aug 1901
- Most recent
- SR3 1903 v MEL29 Aug 1903
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Camberwell Rovers, Billy Spears was a talented forward whose brief VFL career was defined by a significant interruption of military service. The son of a former Carlton player, he managed a single senior appearance for the Blues in 1901 before departing for South Africa to serve with the Fifth Mounted Rifles in the Boer War. Upon his return to Melbourne, he crossed to Collingwood, spending a season in the reserves before breaking into the senior lineup for the opening round of 1903 alongside fellow debutant and future legend Jock McHale. A lively forward pocket capable of snapping brilliant goals, Spears played six matches during that premiership year but ultimately lost his place in the side prior to the finals series. Although he missed out on the flag triumph, he remained highly enough regarded to feature in the club's official commemorative artwork for the 1903 premiership.
Profile
- Born
- 29 July 1877
- Died
- 18 Aug 1957 (aged 80y 20d)
- Height
- 180 cm
- Weight
- 78 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Camberwell Rovers, Billy Spears was a talented forward whose brief VFL career was defined by a significant interruption of military service. The son of a former Carlton player, he managed a single senior appearance for the Blues in 1901 before departing for South Africa to serve with the Fifth Mounted Rifles in the Boer War. Upon his return to Melbourne, he crossed to Collingwood, spending a season in the reserves before breaking into the senior lineup for the opening round of 1903 alongside fellow debutant and future legend Jock McHale. A lively forward pocket capable of snapping brilliant goals, Spears played six matches during that premiership year but ultimately lost his place in the side prior to the finals series. Although he missed out on the flag triumph, he remained highly enough regarded to feature in the club's official commemorative artwork for the 1903 premiership.