| Gerry Williams | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Gerald Williams | ||
| Date of birth | 28 September 1877 | ||
| Place of birth | Richmond, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 12 May 1901 (aged 23) | ||
| Place of death | Parkville, Victoria | ||
| Original team(s) | North Melbourne (VFA) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1897–1898 | North Melbourne (VFA) | 11 (7) | |
| 1899–1900 | St Kilda (VFL) | 11 (4) | |
| 1900 | West Melbourne (VFA) | 15 (10) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1900. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Gerald Williams (28 September 1877 – 12 May 1901),[1] known to his family as "Joe", was an Australian rules footballer who played with St Kilda in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Williams played his early (pre-St Kilda) football with North Melbourne, in the Victorian Football Association (VFA), and his later (post-St Kilda) football with West Melbourne, also in the VFA.[2]
The son of Gerald Cadogan Williams (1853-1899),[3] and Marian Williams (1858-1910), née Leighton,[4] Gerald Williams was born in Richmond, Victoria on 28 September 1877.
Recruited from local juniors, Williams played in 11 games and kicked 7 goals for North Melbourne in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) in two seasons (1897 and 1898).[5]
Cleared from North Melbourne on 10 May 1899,[6] he made 11 league appearances for St Kilda, six in the 1899 VFL season and five in the 1900 season.[7] Three of his four career goals came in St Kilda's 98-point loss to Essendon at East Melbourne in 1899, which was a rare occurrence of one player kicking all of his team's goals in a game.[8][9] All of his 11 games were in losses.[7]
He was cleared from St Kilda to West Melbourne in the VFA on 18 May 1900.[10] He played 15 games for West Melbourne that season, mainly on the half-forward line, and kicked 10 goals.[11]
Shortly after midnight on 12 May 1901, Williams fell from a platform at Princes Bridge railway station and was gravely injured by a shunting train. He died later that day at the Melbourne Hospital in Parkville, Victoria.[12][13][14] The inquest found that his death was accidental.[15]