Bill Thomas (Australian footballer)

For the footballer born in 1930, see Bill Thomas (footballer, born 1930).

Not to be confused with Billy Thomas (Australian footballer).

William David Thomas (10 November 1886 – 8 October 1974)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) between 1906 and 1913 and then for the Richmond Football Club from 1914 to 1916 and again in 1919. His son Len Thomas was a premiership player for South Melbourne.

Bill Thomas
Cigarette card of Thomas in 1908
Personal information
Full name	William David Thomas
Date of birth	(1886-11-10)10 November 1886
Place of birth	Melbourne, Victoria
Date of death	8 October 1974(1974-10-08) (aged 87)
Place of death	Windsor, Victoria
Original team(s)	Carlton District/Rose of Northcote
Height	178 cm (5 ft 10 in)
Weight	77 kg (170 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1905–1913	South Melbourne	135 (2)
1914–1916; 1919	Richmond	062 (3)
Total		197 (5)
Coaching career
Years	Club	Games (W–L–D)
1910–1911	South Melbourne	39 (26–12–1)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1919.
Career highlights
South Melbourne premiership player 1909 South Melbourne captain-coach 1910–1911 Interstate games: 4 Victorian captain 1912 Richmond captain 1914–1916, 1919
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

"Son", as he was nicknamed, was captain-coach of South Melbourne in 1910 and 1911 and was captain of Richmond for every game he played for them.