Bill Barrot

William Thomas Barrot (6 May 1944 – 29 November 2016) was a professional Australian rules football player who played in the Victorian Football League (VFL), the South Australian Football League (SANFL) and the Victorian Football Association (VFA).

Bill Barrot
Barrot during his Richmond career
Personal information
Full name William Thomas Barrot
Nickname(s) Bustling Billy
Date of birth (1944-05-06)6 May 1944
Place of birth Victoria
Date of death 29 November 2016(2016-11-29) (aged 72)
Original team(s) Ashburton
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 81.5 kg (180 lb)
Position(s) Midfielder
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1961–1970 Richmond 120 0(91)
1971 St Kilda 002 00(4)
1971 Carlton 012 0(10)
Total 134 (105)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1971.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Family

The son of Wesley Thomas Barrot (1917–1978), and Peggy Eileen Barrot (1923–2016), née French, William Thomas Barrot was born at Melbourne on 6 May 1944.

His brother Wes Barrot, a professional sprinter who also played VFL football with Richmond and with Collingwood.

Football

Barrot made his senior VFL in 1961 for Richmond Football Club, where he was known with popular affection as Bustling Billy. Playing as a centreman, Barrot won the Jack Dyer Medal (Richmond's best-and-fairest award) in 1965, was an interstate representative for Victoria, and a major driving force behind the Tigers' 1967 grand final win. However, Barrot was prone to injury, which limited his senior VFL appearances for the Tigers to just 120 over ten seasons, although he did get a second premiership with Richmond in 1969. A personal highlight for the year, besides winning the premiership, was a career-best 8-goal haul against Carlton; at the time, Richmond's 24.12.156 was the highest team score Carlton had ever conceded, although Carlton only lost by 29 points.[1][2]

In 1971, Barrot was sensationally traded to St Kilda in exchange for two-time Brownlow Medallist Ian Stewart, who would end up winning the 1971 Brownlow Medal with Richmond for his record-tying third medal; sports writer Greg Hobbs claimed Barrot was being offered $10,000 (equivalent to $109,337 in 2018) for a two-year contract (plus bonuses), a very good salary for the time. However, Barrot never truly settled at Moorabbin Oval, managing just a couple of games, and later in the year he was traded to Carlton Football Club, where he finished his VFL career.

In 1972, Barrot played for VFA side Oakleigh, which had endured a lean time for more than a decade. Barrot's impact, both on and off the field, was immediate and pronounced, and the Devils won the first-division grand final.

Moving to Adelaide, Barrot was appointed as captain-coach of SANFL club West Torrens. After running seventh in 1973, the Eagles endured a horror start to the 1974 season which ultimately precipitated Barrot's departure, in somewhat acrimonious circumstances, midway through the year. However, it was during this 1.5-year stint at West Torrens that Barrot would be remembered for his 87-metre torpedo punt goal.[3]

He finished his career back at Oakleigh, where he took over as coach.[4]

Years later, whilst playing in a Richmond legends game, Barrot suffered a heart attack and almost died on the field.

Death

Barrot died on 29 November 2016 aged 72.[5][6]

See also

Notes
  1. "AFL Tables - Carlton v Richmond - Sat, 23-Aug-1969 2:10 PM - Match Stats". afltables.com. Retrieved 31 March 2023.
  2. Bill Barrot 8 goals v Carlton , Rd 19 1969 at Princes Park, retrieved 31 March 2023
  3. 1973 Goals of the Day, retrieved 31 March 2023
  4. Hornsey, A. "Knock outs", Football Times, Messenger Publications: Adelaide. 10 April 1980, p. 2.
  5. "Richmond Tigers dual premiership hero Billy Barrot dies". The Age. 29 November 2016. Retrieved 29 November 2016.
  6. "Tigers Champion Bill Barrot Passes Away". afl.com.au. Retrieved 29 November 2016.

References
  • Hogan P (1996), The Tigers of Old: A complete History of Every Player to Represent the Richmond Football Club between 1908 and 1996, Richmond FC, (Melbourne). ISBN 0-646-18748-1
  • Ross, J. (ed.) (1996), 100 Years of Australian Football 1897–1996: The Complete Story of the AFL, All the Big Stories, All the Great Pictures, All the Champions, Every AFL Season Reported, Ringwood: Viking. ISBN 0-670-86814-0
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