19th Century Team - Centreline

TEAM OF THE 19TH CENTURY

Centreline

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Right Centre Wing - James Wilson (Geelong)

A former jockey who once rode in the Melbourne Cup, James Wilson roved for Geelong with great talent and ebullience during the late 1870s and early 1880s. His high status and enormous ability were emphasised by his being voted Champion of the Colony on no fewer than three successive occasions from 1880 to 1882. Geelong was very much the pre-eminent team in the VFA during Wilson's career, winning half a dozen premierships in the seven years between 1878 and 1884. James Wilson's brother William, another former jockey, also played for Geelong with considerable distinction for several years.

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Centre - George Coulthard (Carlton)

Regarded by some as the greatest player of his time, triple Champion of the Colony George Coulthard was a major reason behind Carlton's success in the early years of the VFA, most notably in its premiership year of 1877. Quick, highly skilled, aggressive and versatile, 'The Australasian' in 1879 described Coulthard as "the grandest player of his day". Capable of playing in most positions, he was a superb kick, particularly over distance, and was the VFA's leading goal kicker on three occasions (once jointly).

A farmer by trade, he travelled north in 1877 to spread the football gospel to the 'heathens' of New South Wales, only to cut his journey short after he was allegedly attacked by a shark while out fishing from a boat.

In addition to his splendid all round talent, Coulthard was not a man to take a backward step. In 1882 he was involved in two fiery altercations with Hotham's Joey Tankard, after the second of which he was suspended for the remainder of the season. Tragically, his senior football career came to an end, after a mere seven seasons, without his playing another senior game. In 1883, aged just twenty-seven, he contracted tuberculosis, and died shortly afterwards.

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Left Centre Wing - Jack Worrall (Fitzroy)

If he tends to be best remembered today for his exploits as one of league football's earliest coaches, Jack Worrall also happened to be one of the very finest rovers of the nineteenth century. Twice voted Champion of the Colony, he was noted for his all round skills, goal kicking exploits (he was Fitzroy's leading goal kicker on two occasions), and leadership qualities. He won an early version of the Roys' best and fairest award in 1886, and was the club's skipper for half a dozen seasons. Originally from South Ballarat, he led Fitzroy to 3rd place in 1891 and a runners-up spot the following year, but had already been retired for a couple of years when the club broke through for its first and only VFA flag in 1895.

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