Bill Busbridge


William Ethelbert Busbridge was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the early days of the Victorian Football League. A centre half back and part-time ruckman, he was also known by his nickname "Buzzy".

Family

One of seven children, Busbridge was born to William Ethebert Busbridge and Margaret Jane Busbridge, née Smith, in the Essendon district on 31 January 1885.
He married Ethel Essendon Dean on 14 December 1912. They had one surviving son, Keith Ethelbert.
Busbridge died in a Geelong private hospital on 12 June 1943, and was cremated at Fawkner Crematorium on 14 June 1943.

Football

Essendon Town (VFA)

Debuting at the age of 17, he played for the VFA team Essendon Town in 1902 and 1903.

Essendon (VFL)

Sought by Carlton, South Melbourne, and Essendon, and refused a clearance by Essendon Town, he was cleared to play with Essendon at the 4 May 1904 meeting of the VFL Permit Committee. Busbridge went on to win consecutive Best and Fairests in 1908 and 1909. He was a premiership player with the Essendon in 1911 when they beat Collingwood by a single goal.

Victoria (inter-State team)

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

Injury

His career came to a premature end when a knee injury forced him to retire in July 1912.

Geelong Grammar School

In 1913, he was coaching the Geelong Grammar School's First XVIII.

Geelong (VFA)

As an interim measure, he was appointed coach of the Geelong Association Football Club for the 1925 season. Ex-Fitzroy footballer, and former Geelong coach, Bert Taylor, was appointed captain-coach for the 1926 season.

Renown

VFL Champion

In September 1909 The Argus newspaper organised a vote by its readers to see who were regarded as the most popular champion players in the VFL and VFA. Over 105,000 votes were cast. Busbridge won the League vote from South Melbourne's Charlie Ricketts — a former Essendon team-mate of Busbridge, playing with Brunswick Football Club, Jack McKenzie won the Association vote from former Geelong footballer Ike Woods, playing with Prahran Football Club.

Champions of Essendon

In 2002 an Essendon panel ranked him at 14 in their Champions of Essendon list of the 25 greatest players ever to have played for Essendon.

Footnotes