Thomas Wentworth Wills

[Dyer'ere]

I guess we all know that Tom Wills is largely regarded as the father of Australian Football.

On the 17th May 1859 Wills chaired a meeting in which the first rules of the game were codified. Three days earlier on the 14th May along with others, he formed the Melbourne Football Club becoming their first captain. It also appears he had much to do with the formation of the Geelong Football Club on 18th July 1859.

For the 1860 season it appears he captained the Richmond Club.

http://www.footystamps.com/ot_tom_wills.htm

But the Richmond connection surprised me. Seems he got out of Melbourne after twelve months. Wouldn't have been a hard choice. ;D

 

[interested]

His aim was, I believe, to get a league started - which saw him move from club to club.
I think, if my information is correct, he spent a year at the three clubs and then returned to Melbourne. This may be wrong.

 

[interested]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

 

[Ian4]

we weren't formed then

 

[Dyer'ere]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

Although he moved from club to club, he obviously barracked for Richmond.

 

[JR8]

Yep, I've felt like doing the same thing many times over the last 24 yrs!!

 

[RROFO]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

Obviously upset about forming the MFC.

 

[Hayfever]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

A handwritten note left next to his bed explained how he could no longer live with the terrifying thought of a football club being formed at Collingwood

 

[tiger in the night]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

I believe he was running at the time of the unfortunate incident.

 

[HellsTiger]

I believe he was running at the time of the unfortunate incident.

His Mummy told him not to!

A handwritten note left next to his bed explained how he could no longer live with the terrifying thought of a football club being formed at Collingwood

What a waste, he could have taken a walk to Scumwood and taken some of them with him.

 

[North Sea Tiger]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

I believe he was running at the time of the unfortunate incident.

gold

 

[Rayzorwire]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

I believe he was running at the time of the unfortunate incident.

Maybe TITN, but I also heard he had his wig on back the front due to a drunken miscalculation and stumbled into one of Eddy's ancestors he'd formed a club with.

Mr Maguire was questioned, but in the end the local constable decided that it shawly couldn't have been him who would do such a thing.

The coroner proclaimed it a suicide and the rest is history.

 

[tiger in the night]

And an odd end to his life also...

"In his later years, Wills became an alcoholic and in May 1880 at the age of 44 he stabbed himself to death with a pair of scissors."

I believe he was running at the time of the unfortunate incident.

Maybe TITN, but I also heard he had his wig on back the front due to a drunken miscalculation and stumbled into one of Eddy's ancestors he'd formed a club with.

Mr Maguire was questioned, but in the end the local constable decided that it shawly couldn't have been him who would do such a thing.

The coroner proclaimed it a suicide and the rest is history.

Sounds entirely likely to me.