Billy James (Australian footballer)


William Roy James was an Australian rules footballer who played one game with the Richmond Football Club in the Victorian Football League—the 1920 VFL Grand Final.
James came from Kyabram, and his only game landed him a VFL premiership medallion. He helped Richmond earn the Tigers their inaugural VFL premiership, with his only goal late in the last quarter sealing the victory. James was retrospectively awarded a life membership for his contribution.
According to legend, James was accidentally shot in the foot whilst out hunting prior to the commencement of the 1921 season, an injury which supposedly ended his football career. However, in 2018, new historical research proved this false, as the injury occurred in 1925, a full four years after his last VFL match.