Bill Downie
Encyclopedia
William Downie was an Australian rules football
er who played with Footscray
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
(VFL).
Downie played as a ruckman
and represented Footscray 54 times before finishing off his VFL career with a year at St Kilda. He was then picked up by Northcote
in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA) and was a member of their 1937 premiership side.
He served his country in World War II
and was killed by a Japanese guard in a Prisoner of War camp.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er who played with Footscray
Western Bulldogs
The Western Bulldogs are an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League . The club is based at the Whitten Oval in West Footscray, an inner-western suburb of Melbourne...
and St Kilda in the Victorian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(VFL).
Downie played as a ruckman
Ruckman (Australian rules football position)
In Australian rules football, a ruckman is typically a tall and athletic player who contests at centre bounces and stoppages . The ruckman is one of the most important players on the field...
and represented Footscray 54 times before finishing off his VFL career with a year at St Kilda. He was then picked up by Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
in the Victorian Football Association
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
(VFA) and was a member of their 1937 premiership side.
He served his country in World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
and was killed by a Japanese guard in a Prisoner of War camp.