Wikipedia

Bill Freyer

William Alan Kelso Freyer (11 March 1900 – 4 December 1961) was a former Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[1] He generally played as a defender.

Bill Freyer
Personal information
Full name William Alan Kelso Freyer
Date of birth (1900-03-11)11 March 1900
Place of birth Port Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death 4 December 1961(1961-12-04) (aged 61)
Place of death South Melbourne, Victoria
Height 179 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1925 South Melbourne 12 (0)
1926 Footscray 7 (0)
Total 19 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1926.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Before his VFL career, Freyer played for the Port Melbourne Juniors, winning an award for most consistent player.[2] Having been on South Melbourne's junior reserve list in 1924, he attended try-outs for their senior side in April 1925,[3] ending up among six players out of 100 hopefuls to make the senior list.[4]

Freyer made his VFL debut in the opening round of the 1925 season against Carlton,[5] a victory for South. Round 2, against Footscray, saw him assigned to mark George Bayliss – what The Record called "a hard task for any man".[6] Freyer's performance won praise from the football columnists, with his judgement, positioning and speed singled out, though he did concede a goal through an illegal handpass. The Sporting Globe considered him likely to hold a permanent spot in the South team.[7]

Up against North Melbourne in round 3, South tried placing Freyer in the unfamiliar position of half-forward, but his performance proved quieter.[8] Versus Richmond the following week his marking and kicking were inhibited by the field's poor condition, but he was still able to demonstrate his speed.[9]

Freyer suffered an injury partway through the season, keeping him out of the side for five weeks.[10] He had done enough for The Age to name him among the "shining lights of the southern combination",[11] and would return against Fitzroy in round 11. He was injured again in round 13, clashing with his teammate Charlie Stanbridge,[12] but played the remaining matches of the season. An "effective display" against St Kilda in the penultimate round earned him praise.[13]

In June 1926, Freyer requested League permission to transfer to Footscray.[14] He became Footscray's 50th VFL player on his club debut in round 7,[15] putting in a "prominent" defensive performance in a loss to Carlton.[16] Freyer managed six further matches with Footscray.

Bill was brother to Ted Freyer, who also played in the VFL, though for Essendon.

References

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  1. ^ Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2014). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (10th ed.). Seaford, Victoria: BAS Publishing. p. 298. ISBN 978-1-921496-32-5.
  2. ^ "Port Melbourne Juniors (Railway United Football Club)". The Record. 14 March 1925. p. 2.
  3. ^ "Trafficking in players: South Melbourne". The Age. 27 April 1925. p. 6.
  4. ^ "Last season's experience". The Age. 16 April 1926. p. 7.
  5. ^ "The League". The Argus. 1 May 1925. p. 10.
  6. ^ "Various Notes". The Record. 16 May 1925. p. 5.
  7. ^ "In rare form". The Sporting Globe. 13 May 1925. p. 10.
  8. ^ "The Players". The Record. 23 May 1925. p. 2.
  9. ^ "South's unlucky day". The Record. 30 May 1925. p. 1.
  10. ^ "Club notes: South Melbourne". The Age. 31 July 1925. p. 7.
  11. ^ "Notes from the fields: South Melbourne". The Age. 5 June 1925. p. 7.
  12. ^ "Various notes". The Record. 15 August 1925. p. 1.
  13. ^ "The Players". The Record. 12 September 1925. p. 1.
  14. ^ "Footscray building up". The Herald. 2 June 1926. p. 14.
  15. ^ Gigacz, Andrew (13 February 2020). "Van Oosterwijck marks a Bulldog milestone". westernbulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
  16. ^ "Footscray go down after big effort". The Herald. 7 June 1926. p. 3.
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