Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (21 May 1912 – 17 June 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He played only one VFL game, against Melbourne.[1][2]
| Max Wheeler | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler | ||
| Date of birth | 21 May 1912 | ||
| Place of birth | Coleraine, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 17 June 1941 (aged 29) | ||
| Place of death | Merdjayoun, French Lebanon | ||
| Original team(s) | Ballarat Football Club | ||
| Position(s) | Forward pocket | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1937 | Hawthorn | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1937. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
| External image | |
|---|---|
 Egyptian Toy Camel: Private G M Wheeler, 2/2 Pioneer Battalion, Collection of the Australian War Memorial. |
Family
editThe son of Herbert John Wheeler (1877–1947),[3][4] and Eliza Lousia Wheeler (1878–1975), née James, Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler was born at Coleraine, Victoria on 21 May 1912.[5]
He married Margaret Isabel Lingham (1914-1998) in 1937.[6] They had three children: Maxine, Alan, and Mabel.
Football
editWheeler topped the Ballarat - Wimmera FL goalkicking with 107 goals in 1936.[7]
Hawthorn managed to secure a permit from Ballarat for Wheeler to play on a Monday.[8] He played on a split round weekend in which the Hawks and Melbourne played at Glenferrie oval. The following week he was dropped and lined up in the reserves. A few weeks later while playing in the seconds Wheeler had his arm broken and that finished his season.[9]
Wheeler returned from Hawthorn and played with North Ballarat FC[10] and he topped the Ballarat Football League goalkicking in 1938 with 93 goals and in 1939, 93 goals.
In 1938, Wheeler kicked 17 goals in a match against the Ballarat CYMS FC.[11]
Military service
editHe enlisted in the Second AIF on 24 July 1940, and served in the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.[1]
Death
editHe was killed in action, at Merdjayoun, in French Lebanon, on 17 June 1941, serving with the Second AIF.[12][1]
See also
editFootnotes
edit- ^ a b c Gigacz, Andrew, "A Gold Watch and a Toy Camel", australianfootball.com.
- ^ Holmesby & Main (2007).
- ^ Deaths: Wheeler, The Argus, (Monday, 16 June 1947), p. 19.
- ^ World War One Nominal Roll: Private Herbert John Wheeler (5636), Australian War Memorial.
- ^ Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria Births Registration no.19360/1912.
- ^ Births Deaths and Marriages Victoria Marriages Registration no.16433/1937.
- ^ "1936 - Finals in football contest". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic). 28 September 1936. p. 32. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "League Snapshots". Herald (Melbourne, Vic. : 1861 – 1954). 18 June 1937. p. 19.
- ^ "Hawthorn". Age (Melbourne, Vic. : 1854 – 1954). 14 July 1937. p. 17.
- ^ "1938 - League Permits". The Argus. 12 May 1938. p. 18. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ "1938 - Country Football Matches". The Sun News-Pictorial (Melbourne, Vic). 1 August 1938. p. 34. Retrieved 26 May 2024.
- ^ In Memoriam: On Active Service: Wheeler, The Age, (Friday, 21 May 1943), p. 5; In Memoriam: Roll of Honour—On Active Service: Wheeler, The Argus, (Friday, 21 May 1943), p. 2.
Sources
edit- Roll of Honour: Private Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (VX45857), Australian War Memorial.
- Epic of The Pioneers: History Made at Merdjayoun, The Age, (Friday, 26 September 1941), p. 6.
- Private Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (VX45857), Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
- World War Two Nominal Roll: Private Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (VX45857), Department of Veterans' Affairs.
- Holmesby, Russell & Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
- Quinlan, Kim, "Footy Stars of the Battlefield", The (Ballarat) Courier, 4 April 2002.
External links
edit- Max Wheeler's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Max Wheeler at AustralianFootball.com
- A gold watch and a toy camel via Australian Football
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