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Bill Allen

Bill Allen 1912 DOB: 7 July 1889
Died: 13 November 1948

Debut: Round 5, 1910 against Collingwood at Victoria Park
Last Game: Round 10, 1923 against Richmond at Punt Road

From: South Yarra

Number: 1 (1912, 1919-1923), 9 (1913, 1915), 19 (1914)

Honours
Life Member - 1945

Games: 142
Goals: 54
Career Statistics

WinsDrawsLossesWinning %
4439530.98

A ruckman and former Sheffield Shield cricketer, Allen lived in Ringwood throughout his career, and was known for catching trains to train and play. He was often left running to the train to the ground. In 1912 Allen represented the VFL against a Bendigo League team, and in 1919 he did the same against Ballarat. He returned to representative play against Bendigo and NSW in 1921.

His cricket career peaked in the 1914-15 summer, but the abandonment of first class play during World War I meant that by the time cricket resumed for 1918-19 other players had surpassed him in the Victorian pecking order.

Missing three seasons during World War I, Allen returned after the war to play until 1923. Early in 1922 when he was struggling for fitness and unable to get a game Richmond made enquiries about his services but were rebuffed. He played just one game in his final year before contracting flu. He failed to make it back into the side again. In 1924 he joined Ringwood as coach.

After his career ended Allen served the club in an honorary capacity as a door attendant. He played cricket for East Melbourne and Ringwood until he was almost 50, retiring in 1937.

YearGamesGoals
1910 14 2
1911 166
1912 167
1913 176
1914 145
1915 1712
1919 94
1920 155
1921 145
1922 92
1923 1 0

Notes
Also shown as being from Blackburn in 1912 and 1913. May have later played for Eltham.

Media
Football Record 1919
Herald - 26/05/1922
Lilydale Express - 17/04/1924
Healesville Guardian - 19/04/1924

Links
Australian Football profile
Cricinfo profile
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Wikipedia profile