Bill Windley
1886-1905
265 games
66 goals
Premiership Player 1888, 1889 & 1890
Captain 1900, 1902

By definition, loyalty refers to a person’s devotion or sentiment of attachment to a particular thing. You’d be hard-pressed to find anyone more devoted than Bill Windley. After 19 years of service as a South Melbourne player, he continued as the club's property and ball steward for a further 40 years.

Windley joined the Southerners the year after the club’s second premiership in 1885. By then, both the game and the club were distinctive, although as one report in The Sportsman details, the behaviour of South’s supporters wasn't always what you'd call sportsmanlike.

“The barrackers of the Hill were as grossly unfair as usual. Hang it, can’t they pump up a little generosity? If a visiting team wins, the verdict seems to be little short of death to all. If it is defeated, the supply of shin-plaster in a way of generous cheer is quite lacking.”

South Melbourne was a VFA powerhouse. Windley joined a team that included Bloods Legend Peter Burns and Swans Hall of Famers ‘Sonny’ Elms and Jimmy Young. Debuting alongside Windley in 1886 was another Hall of Famer, ‘Dinny’ McKay.

Joining the team as a centreman, Windley was sometimes referred to as an eel. Few could move through congestion as he could, and the sight of him slipping through the centre of the South Melbourne Cricket Ground sent the raucous locals into raptures.

Although a man of elusiveness on the field, Windley played it straight as an arrow off it. At the time, undercover player payments threatened the game's amateur status. While many suspected the affluent Southerners to be flaunting the rules, no one could accuse Windley of anything untoward — he even paid for all his football equipment, playing ‘togs’, and club memberships.

In June of his first season, South Melbourne travelled to face Geelong at the Corio Oval. Both teams were undefeated, and many believed the winner of this match would take out the premiership. A record crowd of 11,000 attended, and the scene was set. According to the Geelong Advertiser, South arrived 20 minutes late to reduce playing time against their speedier opponent. As the game wore on, South, holding a slender lead, resorted to kicking the ball out of bounds to waste even more time. Their tactics worked, winning the game by seven points.

However, Windley and his teammates lost the return match and the premiership, breaking the red and white faithful’s hearts.

By 1888, South led the charge towards semi-professionalism and enjoyed the significant financial backing of future chairman Henry Skinner and local bookmaker Robert Phillips. They were crucial contributors to the era in which they were about to embark — the most successful in the club’s history.

In June, a team of English footballers, promoted by English Test cricketers James Lillywhite and Arthur Shrewsbury, arrived at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground to face the locals at their own game.

Unsurprisingly, the Southerners won convincingly, but The Sportsman reported that ‘the visitors were given a most hearty and enthusiastic reception.’ Later in the report, Windley was named one of South’s best, among the game’s ‘most conspicuous in their exertions.’

Windley’s unique qualities were an essential factor in South’s improved performance, with the team relying upon strength, weight and power.

Complementing Windley’s agility was his supreme execution of the drop-kick. In many reports, he’s credited with possessing the best technique in league football, consistently driving the ball distances of up to 70 yards. Windley dominated in securing the 1888 flag, kicking two of the team’s six goals in front of 25,000 at the South Melbourne Cricket Ground against rival Geelong.

Early in 1889, after securing the club’s third premiership, 23 players were presented with the first-ever VFA premiership caps. The Southerners were now regarded as the competition's benchmark, and The Australasian said that ‘no other team has brought the same amount of enthusiasm and wholeheartedness to the conflict.’

Author Mark Pennings said, ‘The Southerners now had a formidable cast of footballers, and no other team could compete with what was fast becoming a new football dynasty.’ Windley’s standing in the game was confirmed with selection in the Victorian team that defeated Tasmania in an inter-colonial match at the MCG.

South wrapped up consecutive premierships and celebrated in fine style, winning the final match of 1889 against Richmond, 13.10 to 0.6. The team was exalted, and Windley performed admirably across the centreline as a key cog in the unstoppable South Melbourne machine.

According to Pennings, during the 1890 season, South’s players were rewarded with a mid-season all-expenses-paid boat trip to Brisbane with everything on board, including a saloon bar, orchestra and entertainers, at the service of the playing group.

In combination with Harry Purdy, Windley was again pivotal in ensuring South’s midfield used their skill and unrivalled team play to great effect in securing their third premiership in succession. The Sportsman declared that ‘to have won the wreath of fame as they have for three consecutive seasons is something truly great in the football world, and highly gratifying to their supporters.’

That golden era lost its shine in 1891, with a runners-up performance in the club’s final VFA season of 1896, providing the most meaningful result during subsequent seasons. Windley had compiled one of the club’s most outstanding VFA records, playing 136 games. Pennings named Windley as centreman in South’s team of the 19th century.

South Melbourne became one of eight breakaway clubs to form the Victorian Football League in 1897. Windley was now one of the team’s veteran players and began to play more as a rover in the early VFL years.

In 1900, at 31, he was appointed captain of South Melbourne. Always a hugely popular figure at the club, he was respected across the competition for his maturity and the guidance given to his teammates. The Record said, ‘Windley as a captain and footballer takes a lot of beating.’

Ahead of the 1901 season, Windley declined the captaincy, as he felt the honour should be given to a younger player. At the time, captains also assumed the coach’s role, and he wanted to sharpen his focus on his own game.

After a disappointing year, though, Windley returned as captain in 1902. Still regarded as one of the best players in league football, his leadership proved invaluable as the Southerners gave 17 players a debut match. He played an excellent season as the team finished fifth.

Following his retirement in 1905, Windley remained involved at the club, holding office as member of the club’s committee, before providing advice and encouragement to generations of South Melbourne footballers as ball steward until 1947.

A man of great principle, The Record reported that at the end of his playing career, Windley ‘was presented with a handsome monetary testimonial by his admirers, but, being of independent means, transferred the gift to a deserving cause.’

After a period of failing health, Windley passed away in 1953, aged 86. He is remembered as a graceful and stylish player who remained at the forefront of Victorian football for years. In addition to his 60 years of service to South, he worked for 55 years in various roles at The Argus newspaper.