Tom Wills, the man credited with founding Australian rules football, will be recognised during Sunday’s Country Festival match between Geelong and Essendon, with the player adjudged best on ground receiving the Tom Wills Award.
Wills was born in 1835 and grew up various regional areas on family owned properties. A great cricketer in his day, Wills is credited with co-writing the original rules of Australian rules football. Wills pushed for the establishment of a football code, and famously on 10 July 1858 his letter to Bells’ Life sports paper was the catalyst for the formation of the game we now know as Australian rules.
Wills was a co-founder of both the Geelong and Melbourne Football Clubs and was involved in the formation of the VFA in 1877. Wills played around 170 games with the Cats and captained the club.
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2023 Tom Wills Award Judging Panel
Leigh Montagna (Chair)
Marnie Vinall
Brett Deledio
Jeff Gieschen (Maffra, Wodonga) will present the player judged best afield with the Tom Wills Award post-match.
Sunday's match kicks off at 1.10pm with the Country Festival taking place prior in the Yarra Park precinct.
