Bill Busbridge

Bill Busbridge
Personal information
Date of birth	31 January 1885
Date of death	12 June 1943 (aged 58)
Original team(s)	Essendon Town (VFA)
Height/Weight	183 cm / 83 kg
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1904–1912	Essendon	103 (32)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1912 season.

Bill Busbridge (31 January 1885 – 12 June 1943) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the early days of the Victorian Football League (VFL). A centre half back and part-time ruckman, he was also known by his nickname "Buzzy".

He was a premiership player with the Essendon in 1911 when they beat Collingwood by a single goal.

After debuting at the age of 16, Busbridge went on to win back-to-back Best and Fairests in 1908 and 1909.

He represented Victoria in the inaugural Australasian Football championships in Melbourne, in August 1908.

A knee injury forced him to retire prematurely in 1912.

In 2002 an Essendon panel chose him at 14th in their "Champions of Essendon" selection.

References

• Maplestone, M., Flying Higher: History of the Essendon Football Club 1872–1996, Essendon Football Club, (Melbourne), 1996. ISBN 0-9591740-2-8
• Ross, J. (ed), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Viking, (Ringwood), 1996. ISBN 0-670-86814-0

External links

• Bill Busbridge's statistics from AFL Tables
• Bill Busbridge's profile from AustralianFootball.com
• Essendon Football Club, "Champions of Essendon" Profile: Bill Busbridge
• Essendon Football Club profile