Tom Wills, Australian cricketer, co-created Australian rules football (b. 1835)

Thomas Wentworth Wills (19 August 1835 – 2 May 1880) stands as one of Australia's most compelling and complex sporting figures, widely acknowledged as the nation's first cricketer of significant renown and a pivotal founder of Australian rules football. Born into a British penal colony in New South Wales, his origins were rooted in a wealthy family whose lineage traced back to convicts, a paradox that speaks to the emerging social fabric of colonial Australia. Wills spent his formative years in the rugged Australian bush, on vast pastoral stations owned by his father, Horatio Wills, a prominent squatter and politician, in what would later become the state of Victoria. This unique upbringing afforded him an extraordinary childhood, during which he forged friendships with local Aboriginal people, immersing himself in their language and customs – an experience that would profoundly influence his later life and legacy.

At the tender age of 14, Wills embarked on a journey to England to attend the prestigious Rugby School. It was there that his exceptional athletic talents truly blossomed; he not only rose to become captain of the school's cricket team but also engaged in an early, less codified version of rugby football. His prowess on the cricket pitch continued to flourish beyond Rugby School, leading him to represent Cambridge University in the highly anticipated annual cricket match against Oxford. He further honed his skills at the highest echelons of English cricket, playing at a first-class level for storied clubs such as Kent and the Marylebone Cricket Club (MCC). Renowned as an athletic bowling all-rounder, possessing a keen tactical mind and an uncanny ability to read the game, Wills was lauded by many as one of the finest young cricketers in England, a testament to his burgeoning talent on the world stage.

Return to Australia and the Birth of a New Game

Upon his return to Victoria in 1856, Thomas Wills immediately achieved Australia-wide stardom as a cricketer, a genuine sporting celebrity in a burgeoning nation. His leadership was evident as he captained the Victorian team to repeated and often decisive victories in the intense intercolonial matches, contests that were then the pinnacle of Australian sport and a significant source of colonial pride. While a formidable presence for the prestigious Melbourne Cricket Club (MCC), Wills' independent spirit and a distinctive 'larrikin streak'—a term for a mischievous, unconventional Australian—often brought him into conflict with the more conservative club administrators. His occasional 'defections' to play for rival clubs further strained these relationships, highlighting an early tension between player autonomy and institutional control in Australian sport.

However, it was his visionary thinking in 1858 that would etch his name into the annals of Australian history. Recognizing the need for a robust winter pastime to keep cricketers engaged and fit during the off-season, Wills boldly advocated for the formation of a "foot-ball club" that would operate under a "code of laws." This call to action swiftly materialized; he captained a nascent Melbourne side that very winter, and by 1859, he had famously co-written the seminal laws of the game—principles that would become the foundational bedrock of Australian rules football. Working closely with his cousin, H. C. A. Harrison, Wills continued to tirelessly develop the sport, not only as a brilliant player but also stepping into crucial roles as an umpire and administrator, ensuring the game's evolution and popularization.

Tragedy, Reconciliation, and a Spiralling Decline

In 1861, at the zenith of his sporting fame, Thomas Wills made a significant life change, retiring from the world of competitive sport to assist his father in managing a remote pastoral station in the challenging outback of Queensland. This decision, seemingly a move towards a more settled life, tragically turned into a horrific nightmare. Soon after their arrival, the station became the site of one of Australia's most devastating colonial massacres. His father, Horatio Wills, along with eighteen other station personnel, was killed by Aboriginal people in an act of violent retribution—an event now known as the Cullin-la-ringo massacre. Thomas Wills miraculously survived the horrific ordeal, a survivor burdened by unspeakable trauma.

He returned to Victoria in 1864, a man forever changed by the massacre. Yet, in a remarkable and poignant chapter of his life that speaks to his earlier childhood connections, Wills undertook a groundbreaking initiative between 1866 and 1867. He led an Aboriginal cricket team on an extensive tour across Australia, serving as both its captain and coach. This team, comprised entirely of Indigenous players, represented a potent, albeit complex, symbol of resilience and cross-cultural engagement in a colonial era marked by deep racial divides. Wills' later sporting career, however, was increasingly marked by controversy. He notoriously straddled the evolving amateur-professional divide in cricket, a period when the sport was grappling with its identity. He gained a reputation for bending sporting rules, sometimes to the point of being accused of cheating, reflecting perhaps his unconventional nature and the pressures of the game. In 1872, his controversial bowling action led to him becoming the first bowler in a top-class Australian match to be called for "throwing," a significant and career-damaging incident. Subsequently dropped from the Victorian team, a comeback attempt in 1876 proved futile; by then, he was tragically seen as a relic, a figure from a bygone era of sport.

His final years were a stark contrast to his earlier glories, characterized by profound social alienation, desperate flights from creditors, and a descent into heavy drinking. This self-medication was likely a desperate attempt to numb the debilitating symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) that had plagued him relentlessly since the massacre. The trauma, left untreated and unacknowledged in a less understanding era, took an irreversible toll. In 1880, suffering from delirium tremens, a severe form of alcohol withdrawal, Thomas Wentworth Wills tragically committed suicide by stabbing himself in the heart, bringing an untimely and sorrowful end to a life of extraordinary achievement and profound suffering.

Legacy and Modern Interpretations

Despite being Australia's first true sporting celebrity, Thomas Wills largely receded into obscurity after his death. However, a significant cultural revival has taken place since the 1980s, re-establishing his prominence in Australian history and sport. Today, he is widely recognized as an archetypal tragic sports hero, his life story embodying both magnificent achievements and profound personal torment. Furthermore, he has emerged as a powerful symbol of reconciliation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians, particularly through his early childhood experiences and his pioneering leadership of the Aboriginal cricket team—a complex and often painful symbol, but a symbol nonetheless.

Wills also stands at the very heart of "football's history wars," an ongoing and often passionate dispute concerning the origins of Australian rules football. Central to this debate is the question of whether Marn Grook, a traditional Aboriginal ball game played by Indigenous communities, influenced the early development and "code of laws" of Australian rules. Wills' unique childhood immersion in Aboriginal culture, language, and customs makes him a central, often contested, figure in this important discussion about the cultural roots of Australia's unique game. As acclaimed biographer Greg de Moore eloquently states, Wills "stands alone in all his absurdity, his cracked egalitarian heroism and his fatal self-destructiveness—the finest cricketer and footballer of the age," a testament to a life that continues to resonate with both its brilliance and its enduring heartbreak.

Frequently Asked Questions About Thomas Wentworth Wills

What were Thomas Wills' main achievements?

Thomas Wills is celebrated for two primary achievements: he is widely considered Australia's first significant cricketer, having achieved first-class status in England and captained Victoria to repeated intercolonial victories. Crucially, he is also recognized as a founder of Australian rules football, having co-written its foundational laws in 1859 and significantly contributed to its early development as a player, umpire, and administrator.

What was his connection to Australian Aboriginal people?

Wills developed a deep connection with local Aboriginal people during his childhood in the Australian bush, learning their language and customs. Later in life, after the tragic massacre that claimed his father, he notably led an Aboriginal cricket team on an Australian tour in 1866–67, serving as both captain and coach. This complex relationship is a key aspect of his legacy, particularly in discussions about reconciliation and the origins of Australian rules football.

How did Thomas Wills contribute to Australian Rules Football?

In 1858, Wills called for the creation of a "foot-ball club" with a "code of laws" to provide a winter pastime for cricketers. The following year, he co-wrote these initial laws, which became the basis for Australian rules football. He then played a crucial role in developing the game as a player, umpire, and administrator alongside his cousin, H. C. A. Harrison.

What major tragedy did Thomas Wills experience?

In 1861, while helping his father manage a station in outback Queensland, Wills survived what is known as the Cullin-la-ringo massacre. His father and eighteen other station personnel were killed by Aboriginal people. This traumatic event profoundly impacted Wills' life, leading to his later struggles with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

What is the "Marn Grook" debate, and how is Wills involved?

The "Marn Grook" debate refers to an ongoing historical discussion about whether Marn Grook, a traditional Aboriginal ball game, influenced the early development of Australian rules football. Due to Wills' unique childhood friendships and immersion in Aboriginal culture, he is a central figure in this debate, with some historians suggesting his knowledge of Indigenous games may have subtly informed his work on the sport's foundational laws.

How did Thomas Wills die?

Thomas Wills' life ended tragically in 1880 when, suffering from delirium tremens, likely exacerbated by post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) from the massacre, he committed suicide by stabbing himself in the heart.