The Geelong Football Club will remember a pioneer of our game, Cyril “Bill” McMaster OAM who sadly passed recently aged 94.
McMaster was a dual premiership winner in 1951 and 1952, playing a total of 61 games and kicking 75 goals from 1951 to 1954.
He later returned to Geelong as a coach in 1971 for two seasons before becoming Football’s first ever full-time recruiting officer in 1973, a role he held at the Club until his retirement in 1994.
McMaster began his football journey at St. Joseph's College in Geelong where he was a prominent member of the senior side.
From 1947 to 1950 he played his football at Lake Bolac Football Club, winning back-to-back premierships from 1948 to 1950, and a Club Best and Fairest in 1949.
In 1950 McMaster also played in the Wimmera Football League for Ararat Football Club, on permit from Lake Bolac.
At 193cm, or 6’3½” on the old scale, McMaster’s performances at both clubs caught the attention of Geelong, to which he joined in 1951.
Wearing the number seven, McMaster made an impressive debut for the Cats, kicking five goals against South Melbourne.
McMaster would go on to establish himself as one of Geelong’s most consistent performers in the ruck, culminating in a premiership in the final game of his rookie season against Essendon.
Geelong would go on to go back-to-back with another premiership the following year and it was during this period that McMaster featured in a Geelong side that won 26-consecutive games.
McMaster would return to his local side Lake Bolac as Captain/Coach, leading them to consecutive premierships in 1955 and 1956. He then moved to Mortlake Football Club as Player/Coach from 1957 to 1963.
After his playing career, McMaster returned to Geelong in 1971 as the Senior Coach for two seasons, before being appointed Recruitment Officer in 1973.
McMaster was a pioneer for the League in the first full-time recruitment role and oversaw the recruitment of Gary Ablett Snr, Greg Williams, Garry Hocking, Paul Couch and many other champions of the game.
McMaster stayed connected to the Club following his retirement, as a member of the Honouring the Past Committee and Memorabilia Working Group from 1994 to 2015.
His unique contribution to our game saw him awarded GFC life membership, Jack Titus Service Award and R.J Hickey Awards. He was also awarded the Australian Sports Medal in 2000.
In January 2024, McMaster received the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) in the General Division for service to Australian rules football in the Barwon South West Region.
The Club sends its heartfelt condolences to Bill’s family and friends.
Rest peacefully, Bill.
