Wilbur Harris

Wilbur Harris (28 May 1912 – 28 June 1981)^[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Wilbur Harris
Personal information
Full name	Harold Wilbur Harris
Date of birth	28 May 1912
Date of death	28 June 1981(1981-06-28) (aged 69)
Original team(s)	West Torrens
Height	188 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight	87 kg (192 lb)
Position(s)	Ruckman
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1933–41	South Melbourne	69 (19)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1941.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Harris was a ruckman, recruited from South Australian club West Torrens. The collection of players recruited from interstate in 1932/1933 became known as South Melbourne's "Foreign Legion".^[2]

He originally had trouble establishing a spot in the senior South Melbourne side, but was selected as 19th man in the 1934 VFL Grand Final. By 1937 Harris was a regular in the senior team. He kicked 12 of his 19 career goals that year. In 1941 he was cleared to play for Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association,^[3] but never played for them, returning to play six more games for South Melbourne.^[4]

Notes

1. "Wilbur Harris - Player Bio". Australian Football. Retrieved 10 December 2014.
2. The caricature at the foot of page 10 of Table Talk (22 June 1933) was created by Richard "Dick" Ovenden (1897–1972). From left to right those represented are: Jack Bisset, the team’s captain; Dick Mullaly, the club’s secretary; Brighton Diggins, from Subiaco (WAFL); Bert Beard, from South Fremantle (WAFL); Bill Faul, from Subiaco (WAFL); Joe O'Meara, from East Perth (WAFL); Frank Davies, from City (NTFA); Laurie Nash, from City (NTFA); John Bowe, from Subiaco (WAFL); Jack Wade, from Port Adelaide (SANFL); Ossie Bertram, from West Torrens (SANFL); and Wilbur Harris, from West Torrens (SANFL).
3. "League Football". Record. Vol. XLVI, no. 13. Victoria, Australia. 29 March 1941. p. 3. Retrieved 6 January 2021 – via National Library of Australia.
4. "AFL Tables - Wilbur Harris - Stats - Statistics". afltables.com. Retrieved 5 January 2021.

References

• Wilbur Harris's playing statistics from AFL Tables
• Holmesby, Russell and Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers. 7th ed. Melbourne: Bas Publishing.
• Boyles Football Photos: Wilbur Harris