Bill Freyer
| Bill Freyer | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | William Alan Kelso Freyer | ||
| Date of birth | 11 March 1900 | ||
| Place of birth | Port Melbourne, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 4 December 1961 (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 | |||
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.
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[edit]
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Port Melbourne Juniors (Railway United Football Club)". The Record. 14 March 1925. p. 2.
- ^ "Trafficking in players: South Melbourne". The Age. 27 April 1925. p. 6.
- ^ "Last season's experience". The Age. 16 April 1926. p. 7.
- ^ "The League". The Argus. 1 May 1925. p. 10.
- ^ "Various Notes". The Record. 16 May 1925. p. 5.
- ^ "In rare form". The Sporting Globe. 13 May 1925. p. 10.
- ^ "The Players". The Record. 23 May 1925. p. 2.
- ^ "South's unlucky day". The Record. 30 May 1925. p. 1.
- ^ "Club notes: South Melbourne". The Age. 31 July 1925. p. 7.
- ^ "Notes from the fields: South Melbourne". The Age. 5 June 1925. p. 7.
- ^ "Various notes". The Record. 15 August 1925. p. 1.
- ^ "The Players". The Record. 12 September 1925. p. 1.
- ^ "Footscray building up". The Herald. 2 June 1926. p. 14.
- ^ Gigacz, Andrew (13 February 2020). "Van Oosterwijck marks a Bulldog milestone". westernbulldogs.com.au. Retrieved 14 August 2023.
- ^ "Footscray go down after big effort". The Herald. 7 June 1926. p. 3.
External links[edit]
- Bill Freyer's playing statistics from AFL Tables
- Bill Freyer at AustralianFootball.com