Happy Birthday Tom Wills

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

Worth some recognition. Without Tom Wills, there would be no AFL and (horror!) no Demonland!

Born on this day (19 August) 1835.

https://twitter.com/MCG/status/1428239426015035395/photo/1

Edited August 19, 2021 by La Dee-vina Comedia
typo

[bush demon 2,110]

His story is essential reading for Dee fans.

[maximum bob 462]

He led an interesting life, (to say the least).

[chook fowler 19,665]

I gather he was a bit of a burk!

[Dee Dee 1,130]

My favourite player: go Thomas!

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

44 minutes ago, bush demon said:

His story is essential reading for Dee fans.

Agreed. It's a terrific book about a very interesting, albeit flawed, individual. It there was ever a list put together of the 10 most influential Australians of all time, his name should be there. Not just for being the inventor of Australian Football but also for taking the first Australian representative cricket team to the UK and for his ahead-of-his-time understanding and positive relationships with indigenous communities and individuals. 

Edited August 19, 2021 by La Dee-vina Comedia

[Webber 10,563]

Extraordinary man, troubled yet transformative. 
Herewith a brilliant article by Martin Flanagan, who also wrote his own ‘fictionalised’ novel about Tommy - “The Call”, and my own portrait of Tommy (a death scene), the exhibition of which Martin opened…

 https://australianfootball.com/articles/view/Why+Tom+Wills+is+an+Australian+legend+like+Ned+Kelly/133

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

If the MFC thought about it a bit more, it could develop a "blockbuster" game on the weekend closest to Tom Wills birthday. That would generally make it either round 22 or 23 (assuming we continue with a 23 round format). It doesn't necessarily have to be played against the same team each year, although (somewhat ironically given who we play this weekend), perhaps Geelong might be the best team to play against if it were to be fixed.

Critics will say that a manufactered "blockbuster" played at the end of the season won't work and they might be right. But Tom Wills deserves much more recognition within the AFL than he currently gets and our club should find a way to be involved. 

[Webber 10,563]

4 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

Tom Wills deserves much more recognition within the AFL than he currently gets

Absolutely agree, LDC, he still hasn’t been given the ‘resurrection’ he deserves, although I suspect it’s coming. Martin Flanagan has been Tommy’s champion for years, for reasons his John Button oration outlines. It hasn’t happened yet, despite his bronzed immortalisation outside the MCG, probably because of the hangover stigma of his being an alcoholic suicide. I think it’s maybe now about timing more than anything, even if there’s a waning appetite for history and legacy in what has become an essentially corporatised sport. I would say that very few devotees or outright fans of the sport are aware of its significance - the oldest codified football sport in the world, of which MFC are the inaugural club, under whose name its rules were first written. The vast majority who I get to bore with these facts, young generations included, actually do find it fascinating. That there was such an extraordinary personality at its genesis is of course equally fascinating, but wholly unknown to those fans. That Flanners book and Greg de Moore’s remain the only substantial biographies of Tom Wills is extraordinary. I like your ‘Tom Wills round’  idea. 

[Little Richard 6,265]

45 minutes ago, Webber said:

Extraordinary man, troubled yet transformative. 
Herewith a brilliant article by Martin Flanagan, who also wrote his own ‘fictionalised’ novel about Tommy - “The Call”, and my own portrait of Tommy (a death scene), the exhibition of which Martin opened…

 https://australianfootball.com/articles/view/Why+Tom+Wills+is+an+Australian+legend+like+Ned+Kelly/133

This is your work Webber? It's amazing mate, well done.

[Webber 10,563]

7 minutes ago, Luther said:

This is your work Webber? It's amazing mate, well done.

Thanks Luther, was part of a series based around Tom Wills/football. Ironically, given the niche awareness, they sold very well. This one, apart from being a bit ‘dark’ in context, is rather large …. 7 ft wide, tends to dominate a wall. 

[Little Richard 6,265]

1 minute ago, Webber said:

Thanks Luther, was part of a series based around Tom Wills/football. Ironically, given the niche awareness, they sold very well. This one, apart from being a bit ‘dark’ in context, is rather large …. 7 ft wide, tends to dominate a wall. 

It's super impressive mate. What's the medium?

[Webber 10,563]

Just now, Luther said:

It's super impressive mate. What's the medium?

Acrylic on canvas.

[FireInTheBennelly 4,099]

I'd love to get his thoughts on some of the rule changes, and the overall state of the game.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

1 hour ago, Webber said:

This is very good

[Jumping Jack Clennett 1,820]

Interestingly, in  view of tomorrow's epic match, Tom Wills played for both Melbourne and Geelong.

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

19 minutes ago, FireInTheBennelly said:

I'd love to get his thoughts on some of the rule changes, and the overall state of the game.

I'm pretty confident that the aspect of the game that he would like the most would be the number of indigenous players involved. On the flipside, what I suspect he would find the most distasteful is the continuing racial abuse by a small cohort of ignorant people.  

[Cranky Franky 2,141]

1 hour ago, Webber said:

Extraordinary man, troubled yet transformative. 
Herewith a brilliant article by Martin Flanagan, who also wrote his own ‘fictionalised’ novel about Tommy - “The Call”, and my own portrait of Tommy (a death scene), the exhibition of which Martin opened…

 https://australianfootball.com/articles/view/Why+Tom+Wills+is+an+Australian+legend+like+Ned+Kelly/133

That's an outstanding painting mate. Should be hanging in a gallery. Congratulations.

[DeeZone 10,222]

3 hours ago, Webber said:

Extraordinary man, troubled yet transformative. 
Herewith a brilliant article by Martin Flanagan, who also wrote his own ‘fictionalised’ novel about Tommy - “The Call”, and my own portrait of Tommy (a death scene), the exhibition of which Martin opened…

 https://australianfootball.com/articles/view/Why+Tom+Wills+is+an+Australian+legend+like+Ned+Kelly/133

Thanks Webber that is a great read, sounds like our Tom Wills was a great sportsman with amazing experiences but ultimately ruined by his human frailty with alcohol. Indeed a sad end for a great man. We need to claim Tom as our own Man who was ahead of his time with superb sporting prowess, convict heritage and love for his indigenous brethren. What a man, did you paint that portrait of Tommy Webber, it is magnificent.

Edited August 20, 2021 by DeeZone

[Demon17 5,208]

I note that his cousin was H.C.A. Harrison.

Rememeber the good old days when the players had to front up at Harrison House for the tribunal.  It was hilarious then too.

 

What are the odds of a venue for the Tribuanal/MRP being named "Christian House."

 

Pretty long I would have thought.

[Mazer Rackham 14,971]

45 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

"Christian House."

That's the place where they draw the Tattslotto balls

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

48 minutes ago, Demon17 said:

I note that his cousin was H.C.A. Harrison.

Rememeber the good old days when the players had to front up at Harrison House for the tribunal.  It was hilarious then too.

 

What are the odds of a venue for the Tribuanal/MRP being named "Christian House."

 

Pretty long I would have thought.

It would be a journalist's delight. They could start every story, depending on the result, with either "Player X was crucified..." or "Player X will be able to resurrect his playing career this weekend..."

And just imagine the journalist's apoplectic excitement if it happens to be a Lion fronting Christian House...

[daisycutter 29,795]

34 minutes ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

It would be a journalist's delight. They could start every story, depending on the result, with either "Player X was crucified..." or "Player X will be able to resurrect his playing career this weekend..."

And just imagine the journalist's apoplectic excitement if it happens to be a Lion fronting Christian House...

would be wonderful......imagine all those afl martyrs we could venerate

no doubt most would be demons

[La Dee-vina Comedia 16,944]

6 minutes ago, daisycutter said:

would be wonderful......imagine all those afl martyrs we could venerate

no doubt most would be demons

And St Kilda players would have a natural advantage.

 

[Demon17 5,208]

4 hours ago, La Dee-vina Comedia said:

It would be a journalist's delight. They could start every story, depending on the result, with either "Player X was crucified..." or "Player X will be able to resurrect his playing career this weekend..."

And just imagine the journalist's apoplectic excitement if it happens to be a Lion fronting Christian House...

Brilliant tangent. Well done.