Top Tiger rover of the 1940s-1950s, Bill Wilson, has been honoured with induction into Richmond’s Hall of Fame.
Wilson was recruited by the Tigers from the local Richmond area and made his senior debut with the Club in Round 5 of the 1944 season against Carlton at Princes Park.
He kicked two goals that day in a promising start to his League football career and scored 20 goals all-up for the season, including an equal game-high three in Richmond’s Grand Final loss to Fitzroy (7.9 to 9.12).
The talented, tough, spirited Wilson went on to form an excellent partnership with star ruckmen and Brownlow Medallist duo Bill Morris and Roy Wright.
Wilson, who was nicknamed “Gimme”, because he used to say to Morris and Wright, “give me the ball”, possessed good pace, clever goal sense and was a fierce competitor.
He won the Club’s Best and Fairest award in 1947, finished runner-up in 1948 and was third in 1949 and 1950.
Wilson also represented Victoria 10 times in State football.
In 1953, Wilson was awarded life membership of the Club.
At the end of the 1954 season, he departed Richmond to play with Glenelg in South Australia, and he finished equal third in the 1955 Magarey Medal.
After three years at Glenelg, Wilson returned to Richmond as coach of the thirds and led them to their first VFL premiership in 1958.
Wilson subsequently served on the Tigers’ committee from 1966-67.
To gain a greater insight into Bill Wilson’s playing career with Richmond, here is what a leading football writer of the day, a star teammate and the Club’s Annual Report had to say about him . . .
1950 article in The Argus newspaper by Percy Taylor on Wilson
Bill Wilson is Richmond’s No. 1 rover, his skill having been developed over a long period of service, for he has played in 141 games, and he has kicked 101 goals. In addition, he has twice played in interstate games.
There was a period several years ago when he tried to do too much with the ball and was frequently penalised for holding it. He and Jack Dyer, captain-coach, talked over the problem and Wilson altered his style, with such splendid results that he eventually became the club’s best and fairest player in 1947.
Wilson is a great disciple of physical fitness. He took an interest in boxing, and knows the art, although he has never done anything with it. He is always fit. Indeed, his friends say that he could play a game in the middle of summer, and play as well as if it were the middle of winter.
Roy Wright on Bill Wilson following his 1952 Brownlow Medal win
“I doubt whether I could have won the medal without Wilson’s assistance," Wright said.
“It is one thing to hit a ball out, but it’s a much greater advantage when you know you have a player of Bill’s calibre waiting to receive it.”
1953 Richmond Annual Report on Wilson receiving life membership
During his fine career with the Tigers, Bill Wilson has played 167 games and scored 205 goals and has won representation in a Victorian Carnival team and several Interstate sides. Bill came to Richmond as a lad of 16 from a local side in Richmond Districts and after serving an apprenticeship with the Richmond Recruits and the Cubs, won his way through to the senior side in 1944 and since then has only been out of the side through injuries. One of the most popular players for many years with our younger supporters, Bill has played a big part in visiting junior sides in the suburbs and country areas and helping to further our game. Although several lucrative coaching offers have been made to him in recent years, he has remained loyal to the Tigers, and should have several more years of excellent football before him.
Bill Wilson playing profile
Born: October 18, 1924
Height: 173cm
Playing weight: 75kg
Recruited to Richmond from: Richmond Districts
Guernsey number at Richmond: No. 32
Games at Richmond (1944-1954): 185
Goals at Richmond: 225
Playing honours at Richmond: Best and Fairest winner 1947
