"Old Time Tiger Hero's" Bill Morris
"Old Time Tiger Hero's" Bill Morris William "Bill" Morris (24 April 1921 – 25 May 1960) Bill Morris played for the Richmond Tigers between 1942 and 1951, he played 140 games for the Tigers and kicked 98 goals.
Bill started his career at Melbourne playing 1 game in the reserves, he then joined the army , during an army game at punt rd , bill was spotted by the Tigers talent scouts and moves were made to get him from Melbourne, the Tigers orchestrated a trade with the D R Demons, Colin Galbraith went to them and we got our man Bill. Bill played 5 games in his debut season with the Tigers including being a member of the Tigers side defeated in the grand final, he missed the whole of the 1943 season (army commitments), returning after his army duties, Bill played 17 games in 1944 and became a regular in the Tigers senior side.
From 1945 on Bill played his best footy, winning the Tigers Best and Fairest 3 times, 1945, 1948 and 1950, he also won the Brownlow Medal in 1948 joining Stan Judkins the Tigers only Brownlow winner at the time, Bill polled well in the1945,1946,1947,1950 Brownlow counts. He played in the ruck alongside Tiger Immortal Jack Dyer who had this to say about his teammate in his book "Captain Blood" “Bill Morris was certainly the greatest ruckman I have seen. He had more finesse and class than any other man ever to walk the turf, Morris was a football artist. His ruckwork, palming of the ball and marking was a delight. His forte was that he went through the air instead of up in the air. He would spear at the ball and could come from any angle and was one of those players who put himself in dangerous positions, but missed being killed by fractions. His manipulation of the ball was brilliant and he could flip the ball in any direction to any point. The ability to ride a knock was a feature of Bill’s play. Many a time I’ve seen him in dire trouble. But he could take the knock and use it to position and balance himself. He could even baulk in mid-air.He was a football freak, who comes but once in a lifetime”.
Bill was not overly tall as ruckmen go standing just 188cm and weighing only 86kg, Bill frequently competed against taller, more strongly-built opponents in the ruck, but he had a few tricks up his sleeve had superb timing, both when leaping for a hit-out or mark. He also possessed enormous stamina, which enabled him to regularly ruck unchanged for an entire match. Strong marking, long kicking with either foot, and clever evasive skills, completed the total ruck package, he was also renown for his impeccable fairness. Elevated to captain in the 1950 Bill carried out the role with aplomb until his retirement from VFL footy at the end of the 1951 season.
Sadly on 25/5/1960 Bill took his own life, he goes down in history as one of the greatest players of his era, a true Tiger Champion
Bill Morris Career Highlights Hall of Fame Inductee: 2002 Playing Career: 1942 – 1951 Games: 140 Goals: 98 Best & Fairest: 1945, 1948, 1950 Brownlow Medal: 1948 RFC Captain: 1950 – 1951 Interstate Games: 15 VIC Captain: 1950 RFC Life Member 1951 RFC Team of the Century
