Billy Williams
South Melbourne
AFL career
124 games180 goals
- Debut
- R2 1945 v COL28 Apr 1945
- Most recent
- R18 1951 v FSC1 Sept 1951
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Newport, Billy Williams made an immediate impact for South Melbourne, debuting during the tumultuous 1945 season and featuring in the infamous 'Bloodbath' Grand Final against Carlton in his rookie year. He quickly established himself as one of the premier rovers of the immediate post-war era, possessing pace, exceptional ball-handling skills, and a genuine nose for goal. Unlike many small men of the time who focused purely on distribution, Williams was a constant scoreboard threat, averaging nearly 1.5 goals per game and topping the club's goalkicking in 1947.
His standing at the Lakeside Oval was confirmed by three best and fairest awards won in 1946, 1947, and 1950, alongside regular selection for Victoria and All-Australian honours following the 1947 Hobart Carnival. Despite establishing himself as a star of the competition, his VFL career was relatively short; Williams shocked the football world by leaving South Melbourne at just 26 years of age to accept a lucrative captain-coaching role with Albury. He later returned to South Melbourne to serve as senior coach in the early 1960s.
Profile
- Full name
- William H. Williams
- Born
- 13 Sept 1925
- Died
- 07 July 2016 (aged 90y 298d)
- Height
- 168 cm
- Weight
- 67 kg
Teams
Honours
- Sydney B&F(3×) 1946, 1947, 1950
- Brownlow Medal
- Top 10
- 1947
Family
- Son:Rod Williams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Newport, Billy Williams made an immediate impact for South Melbourne, debuting during the tumultuous 1945 season and featuring in the infamous 'Bloodbath' Grand Final against Carlton in his rookie year. He quickly established himself as one of the premier rovers of the immediate post-war era, possessing pace, exceptional ball-handling skills, and a genuine nose for goal. Unlike many small men of the time who focused purely on distribution, Williams was a constant scoreboard threat, averaging nearly 1.5 goals per game and topping the club's goalkicking in 1947.
His standing at the Lakeside Oval was confirmed by three best and fairest awards won in 1946, 1947, and 1950, alongside regular selection for Victoria and All-Australian honours following the 1947 Hobart Carnival. Despite establishing himself as a star of the competition, his VFL career was relatively short; Williams shocked the football world by leaving South Melbourne at just 26 years of age to accept a lucrative captain-coaching role with Albury. He later returned to South Melbourne to serve as senior coach in the early 1960s.