| Description |
xvi, 336 pages, 8 unnumbered pages of plates : illustrations, portraits ; 23 cm |
| Summary |
"Tom Wills has been acknowledged by the AFL as the most significant founder of Australian Rules football. In 2008, Round 19 of the AFL season has been named the 'Tom Wills Round'. He was Honorary Secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club, played cricket for Melbourne, Collingwood, Richmond and Geelong Cricket Clubs, captained most teams he played with, and represented Victoria in intercolonial cricket matches. He played cricket into his 40s. He played and umpired football for Melbourne and Geelong. Tom Wills was born in 1835 and died in 1880. He was born on a sheep run on the Molonglo River, 180 miles southwest of Sydney. His family moved to a property near Geelong, and later bought a station at Cullin-la-Ringo in Queensland. Tom was schooled at Rugby School in England, sent there at 14 and returning to Australia at 21 in 1856. While there, he excelled at cricket, and this lead to his international reputation as a cricketer playing for Australia. He died in Melbourne in 1880, stabbing himself to death. He was an alcoholic and despite coming from a very well-to-do family, he died destitute."--Provided by publisher |
| Notes |
Includes index |
| Bibliography |
Bibliography: pages [321]-327 |
| Subject |
Wills, Thomas, 1835-1880
|
|
Pioneers -- Australia -- Biography.
|
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Cricket players -- Australia -- Biography.
|
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Australian football -- History.
|
| SUBJECT |
Cullin-la-Ringo (Qld.) -- Massacres
|
| Genre/Form |
Biographies.
|
| ISBN |
9781741754995 paperback |
|
