John Gill (footballer, born 1932)

For the Carlton player, see John Gill (footballer, born 1941).

John Gill
Personal information
Full name John Somers Gill
Born 19 April 1932
Died 3 March 2003(2003-03-03) (aged 70)
Original teams Longerenong College, Horsham DFL
Height 193 cm (6 ft 4 in)
Weight 95 kg (209 lb)
Position Ruckman
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1949–1950 Longerenong FC ? (?)
1951–1957 Essendon 107 (76)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1957.
Career highlights
  • Horsham DFL best & fairest: 1949, 1950
  • Essendon best & fairest: 1954
  • VFL Brownlow Medal: 1954 - 3rd[1]
  • Victorian interstate representative 1954, 1955 & 1957
  • Sporting Globe VFL Team of the Year: 1954[2] & 55
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

John Somers Gill (19 April 1932 – 3 March 2003)[3] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1951 to 1957.

A highly talented ruckman with a strong overhead mark, and a delightfully graceful and accurate "palm", he walked straight into the Essendon senior team at 19 years of age.

Recruited from the Longerenong Agricultural College in the Horsham District Football League, where he won the 1949[4] and 1950[5] league best and fairest award. Gill also played in Longerenong Agricultural College's losing 1949 Horsham District Football League grand final loss to Wonwondah[6]

Gill made his VFL debut, two days after his nineteenth birthday, for Essendon's seniors in the first home-and-away match of the 1951 season, on 21 April 1951, when Essendon defeated Melbourne 13.8 (86) to 10.16 (76) at Windy Hill.[7]

In 1952, Gill was officially the second tallest player in the VFL, just half an inch shorter than his Essendon team mate, Geoff Leek.[8][9]

He won the Crichton Medal in 1954,[10] and finished third in that season's Brownlow Medal count.

He represented Victoria in 1954,[11] 1955[12][13] and 1957.

Having missed the 1951 VFL grand final due to illness, he played in the 1957 VFL grand final, but was on the losing side. It turned out to be his last game of football as he retired at the age of just 25 to concentrate on his business career.

Fans were shocked at his decision to retire, because he seemed to be just starting to achieve his outstanding potential, and he seemed destined to become one of the all-time great ruckmen. His retirement created the space for the (then) second-string ruckman Geoff Leek's career to blossom.

References

  1. ^ "1954 - R. Wright set record in Brownlow Medal". Weekly Times (Melbourne, Vic. : 1869 - 1954). 8 September 1954. p. 99. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  2. ^ "1954 - HOW WE LINE THEM UP". Sporting Globe (Melbourne, Vic. : 1922 - 1954). 1 September 1954. p. 3. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  3. ^ "2003 - John Gill Obituary". Legacy. 5 March 2003. Retrieved 11 March 2026.
  4. ^ "1949 - Horsham and District Grand Final". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 26 August 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  5. ^ "1950 - WINS TROPHY AGAIN GILL TO PLAY WITH ESSENDON". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 29 August 1950. p. 4. Retrieved 5 March 2026.
  6. ^ "1949 - Wonwondah Wins District Premiership". The Horsham Times (Vic. : 1882 - 1954). 6 September 1949. p. 3. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  7. ^ 1951 VFL season#Round 1
  8. ^ Who are the 10 Tallest Footballers?, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 21 May 1952), p. 12.
  9. ^ Gossip from the League Grounds: Geoff Leek Tops all of the Tall Men, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 31 May 1952), p. 8.
  10. ^ "1954 - Gill best for Dons". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 13 September 1954. p. 15. Retrieved 6 March 2026.
  11. ^ "1954 - Victoria May Need Five". The Advertiser (Adelaide, SA : 1931 - 1954). 22 July 1954. p. 11. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  12. ^ "1955 - Victoria and......the invaders". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 17 June 1955. p. 24. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
  13. ^ "1955 - Scores". The Argus (Melbourne, Vic. : 1848 - 1957). 20 June 1955. p. 23. Retrieved 10 March 2026.
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