Joe Wilson (Australian footballer)
Joe Wilson | |||
---|---|---|---|
Personal information | |||
Full name | Joseph Francis Wilson | ||
Date of birth | 27 September 1870 | ||
Place of birth | Launceston, Tasmania | ||
Date of death | 7 December 1912 | (aged 42)||
Place of death | Footscray, Victoria | ||
Original team(s) |
Launceston Grammar | ||
Weight | 10 st 8 lb (67 kg; 148 lb)[n 1] | ||
Position(s) |
Utility | ||
Playing career1 | |||
Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
1886–1889[n 2] | Launceston (NTFA) | ? (?) | |
1890–1896 | Melbourne (VFA) | 117 (32) | |
Representative team honours | |||
Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
1888–1889 | NTFA | 5 (1) | |
1891 | Victoria | 1 | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1896. 2 State and international statistics correct as of 1891. | |||
Career highlights | |||
|
Joseph Francis Wilson
Wilson moved to
As a footballer, Wilson was known for his
Early life
Joe Wilson was educated at
In June 1886, Wilson played his first match for Launceston Football Club's senior team, in a non-premiership game against
Wilson played several matches for Launceston's firsts during the 1887 football season. In a match against Holebrook, he was named among the team's best players.[16] Wilson played for his school during the 1887–88 cricket season and, in one match against Esk, took five wickets for 67 runs (5/67).[17] Later that season he also played for Launceston Cricket Club in a game against Esk.[18] In April 1888, he represented his school in rowing.[19]
For the 1888 season, Wilson was made captain of the Launceston Grammar School football team.[20] He also became a leading player for the Launceston Football Club.[21] Wilson kicked two of his team's three goals in a school match against Horton College,[22] and was named in Launceston's best players in several games, including matches against South Launceston and City that counted towards the premiership.[23][24][25] In a match that was to decide the premiership, against South Launceston, Wilson put in a creditable performance. The game ended in a draw, which left the teams even on the ladder, and a subsequent game was scheduled for two weeks later.[26] In that match, Wilson kicked one of Launceston's five goals as they ran out two-goal victors to win their first Northern Tasmanian Football Association (NTFA) premiership.[27] He was named in Launceston's best players for the match by the Launceston Examiner.[28] For the following cricket season, Wilson moved to play with St. Leonards.[29]
After high school
In one of the early matches of the 1889 football season, Wilson was best on ground in Launceston's win against City.
Wilson played for
Melbourne
Move to Melbourne
In April 1890, it was announced in The Colonist that Wilson was leaving Launceston to move to Melbourne. He had been recruited by Major Wardill, the secretary of the Melbourne Cricket Club, who offered Wilson a "lucrative position" at a Melbourne branch of the National Bank of Australasia if he came to play for the cricket club and the Melbourne Football Club, with which the cricket club had a close affiliation. On his departure from Tasmania, he was described as "the best all-round cricketer and footballer in the North".[39][40]
Wilson made his debut for the Melbourne Football Club on 24 May in a match against
Wilson began playing with the Melbourne Cricket Club in the 1890–91 season. He played two premiership matches early in the season, against
Breaking through
By the 1891 football season, Wilson was considered one of the best players in Melbourne's team.
After a disappointing initial season for the MCC, Wilson's 1891–92 season was much more productive. A regular in the firsts, he was described as batting "soundly and freely" in a match against Carlton and made a "highly spoken of performance" against South Melbourne,[56][57] where he scored 47 runs and was Melbourne's leading wicket-taker with three.[58] Wilson played a total of four premiership matches for Melbourne that season and also represented them against Lord Sheffield's touring English XI. In that match Wilson took the wickets of George Bean, George Lohmann and William Attewell, all Test cricketers.[59] In the final match of the Victorian cricket season, to decide the pennant between Melbourne and South Melbourne, Wilson was selected for MCC, but did not get a chance to bat and only bowled four overs in a weather-affected match that ended in a draw—the premiership defaulted to South Melbourne because they had a slightly higher average during the season.[60][61]
Wilson was again one of Melbourne's better players for the 1892 football season. In a round 14 match against Fitzroy, Wilson kicked three of the Redlegs' six goals in a one-goal victory.[62] Two weeks later, he was described as "performing meritoriously" in a game where he also kicked a goal.[63] In the third-last game of the season, Melbourne drew a match away to a poor Collingwood team. Markwell wrote in The Australasian that Wilson and Dolly Christy, who had both missed the match, were sorely missed.[64] Melbourne finished the season in fourth position on the ladder, their highest finish since 1886, though Markwell thought the result was disappointing when considering the calibre of players the club had recruited. He named Wilson as one of the team's "most deserving" players for the year.[65]
The 1892–93 season was Wilson's most productive in Victorian cricket. He played six senior premiership matches and took 10 wickets at an
Melbourne began the 1893 football season strongly, winning their first eight matches. Wilson missed the first match of the year, but returned for the Redlegs' round 2 victory over
The Redlegs went on to win their next four games, including a match against Collingwood where Wilson played as a forward and kicked two of the team's four goals in the absence of their main goalkicker
Melbourne bounced back the next week with a win over Carlton, but lost the week after at home to Geelong, despite leading by five goals to one at quarter time. This opened up a two-win advantage for Essendon at the top of the ladder. Reviewing the match, Markwell wrote that Wilson had played better games, but that he worked as hard as anyone on the ground and was "singularly unselfish".[78] Melbourne dropped more points with a round 17 draw against South Melbourne and when the Redlegs played another draw two weeks later, this time against St Kilda, The Argus declared the premiership race all but over. Wilson recovered from a form slump to kick both of Melbourne's goals in the St Kilda match, but it was not enough to get the Redlegs over the line.[79] He was again in the best players in Melbourne's round 20 win over Carlton.[80] The Reds closed out the season with two more wins, but it was not enough to catch Essendon who remained undefeated and Melbourne finished runners-up. In his appraisal of the season, Markwell named Wilson in his best dozen Melbourne players.[81]
Wilson's last season for the Melbourne Cricket Club came in 1893–94. He missed the first two premiership matches of the season, but after top scoring with 47 and taking two wickets in a non-premiership match against Fitzroy,
Post-cricket retirement
According to Observer, Wilson almost retired from football too, and it was only "with difficulty" that he was persuaded to continue training. He missed the first four games of the 1894 premiership season, during which Melbourne struggled and lost two. Wilson made his first appearance that year in round 5 against Richmond; Observer wrote that Wilson's return was an "agreeable surprise" and that his marking in particular was impressive. He kicked one goal in a game Melbourne won nine goals to eight.[87] The Redlegs faced Essendon the next week, who were again top of the table. Melbourne lost by four goals to six, largely due to their inaccuracy kicking for goal. Wilson was said by Markwell to "come under favourable notice" while playing in defence that match.[88] Melbourne responded the next week to defeat Port Melbourne in game where Wilson's leadership and direction was praised and Observer commented that he was "as useful a man as Melbourne had".[89][90] He was switched into attack for the round 8 victory over Carlton and Markwell wrote that Wilson was "frequently troublesome".[91]
Melbourne continued on their winning way with a round 11 win against South Melbourne. Wilson played forward and kicked three of Melbourne's nine goals in a comprehensive victory.[92] The Redlegs' winning streak stretched to eight games; during this time Wilson's forward play was at various times described as "clever", "busy" and a "shining example of unselfishness".[93][94][95] Melbourne's good form came to a grinding halt in the reverse fixture against Essendon. They were comprehensively defeated by the Same Olds who secured their fourth consecutive premiership. The Reds' forwards were roundly criticised by Observer, but Wilson was praised as the "only one of them who played a decent game".[96] Melbourne won two of their remaining three games to finish runners-up for the second consecutive year.[97][98][99]
Wilson began the 1895 season much as he had finished 1894, playing in the forward line and often receiving praise from football journalists. Melbourne defeated South Melbourne in their first game of the season and Markwell wrote that he did "a lot of serviceable work".[100] In round 3, the Reds were finally able to defeat Essendon after falling short four times in the previous two years, although the match was said to be of poor quality. Wilson was one of the Redlegs' goalkickers.[101] The club's vice-captain, O'Loughlin, returned to Queensland in June and Wilson was elected to replace him. In his first match after being appointed, against North Melbourne in round 6, Wilson was said to do "every honour to the distinction" as he played his best game of the season and kicked a goal to help Melbourne remain undefeated.[102][103] Melbourne played Richmond the next week and won again with Wilson this time described as a "brilliantly consistent worker".[104] Their winning run continued through to round 9 as the Reds defeated Williamstown by a goal; Wilson was "the pick of Melbourne's forwards" that match according to Markwell.[105] Melbourne's undefeated run came to an end the next week, in a loss to Fitzroy. Due to the absence of many of Melbourne's regular followers in round 14 against Essendon, Wilson was required to play in that position.[106] The Redlegs lost the match, but Wilson was named one of Melbourne's best on the day.[107][108]
Captaincy
Wilson remained captain for the 1896 season, though he missed the first four matches of the year due a suspension he had incurred at the end of the previous season.[110] He returned to the side for round 5 against Williamstown and played up forward in a comfortable 11-goal win.[111] In Melbourne's round 7 win over St Kilda, Markwell wrote that Wilson was "distinctly at his best".[112] And in a round 11 victory against North Melbourne, the same journalist wrote that he had the "soundest judgement" of all forwards on the field.[113] Wilson played "excellently" in the Reds' defeat of Carlton the next week; Markwell remarked upon his desire "to annihilate the men in blue".[114] He kicked his first goal of the season in round 15, a two-goal win over Collingwood, and finished the day with two majors.[115] Markwell observed that Wilson's "judgment and coolness" went a long way to Melbourne winning their round 16 encounter with Essendon.[116] Melbourne finished the season in fourth place on the ladder. Though they never seriously challenged for the premiership, it was noted that the club had bad luck through suspension and injury, and when they got their best team on the field they could challenge anyone. In his review of the season, Markwell named Wilson one of Melbourne's best half dozen players.[117]
Wilson retired from football at the conclusion of the 1896 season.
Later life
Wilson worked for the National Bank of Australasia for 23 years at various suburban Melbourne branches, including East
Notes
References
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- ^ Markwell (27 June 1896). "Football Notes". The Australasian. p. 18. Retrieved 26 August 2015.
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External links
- Demonwiki profile
- Joe Wilson at CricketArchive (subscription required)
- Joe Wilson's Tasmanian football statistics