William Gent (19 June 1879 – 7 July 1957[1]) was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Billy Gent
Personal information
Full name William Robert Gent
Date of birth (1879-06-19)19 June 1879
Place of birth Richmond, Victoria
Date of death 7 July 1957(1957-07-07) (aged 78)
Place of death Port Melbourne, Victoria
Original team(s) Essendon Association
Height 164 cm (5 ft 5 in)
Weight 62 kg (137 lb)
Position(s) Rover
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1903–04, 1906–08 South Melbourne 62 (31)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1908.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

A rover from Essendon Association, Gent was noted for his bad behaviour on the field. In 1904 he received a 20-game suspension for striking numerous Fitzroy players, while in 1907 he was suspended for life by the league for striking Carlton's Dick L. Harris.[2] His expulsion was lifted on appeal after seven games when it was ruled to be illegal – he had been reported by the Carlton club secretary, rather than by the game's umpire, which was traditionally allowed under VFL rules but turned out no longer to be allowed under the Australasian Football Council rules which had come into effect in 1907.[3] Gent played four more games after return before retiring.

Notes

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  1. ^ "Billy Gent - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 14 March 2015.
  2. ^ "Football fights - Charges against players". The Herald. Melbourne, VIC. 24 August 1907. p. 5.
  3. ^ "Football disqualifications – cases of Ghent (sic) and Franks". The Age. Melbourne, VIC. 16 May 1908. p. 15.

References

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