View source for William Blair (Australian footballer)

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = William Blair
| image =
| fullname = William Daniel Blair
| birth_date = {{birth date|1912|6|3|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Newstead, Victoria]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|1960|6|5|1912|6|3|df=yes}}
| death_place = [[Wangaratta, Victoria]]
| originalteam = Ouyen Rovers
| height = 180 cm
| weight =
| position =
| statsend = 1935
| years1 = 1935
| club1 = [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]]
| games_goals1 = 2 (0)
| umpireyears1 = 1940–1945
| umpireleague1 = [[Australian Football League|VFL]]
| umpirerole1 = Boundary umpire
| umpiregames1 = 41
| careerhighlights =
}}
'''William Daniel Blair''' (3 June 1912 – 5 June 1960) was an [[Australian rules football]]er and umpire who played with [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in the [[Australian Football League|Victorian Football League]] (VFL).<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.geelongcats.com.au/club/history/every-player| title=Every Player| publisher=Geelong Football Club}}</ref>
==Playing career==
Blair was an 'oft match-winning defender' and vice-captain for Ouyen Rovers when he was invited to trial by [[Hawthorn Football Club|Hawthorn]] in 1933.<ref>{{cite news|title=Football jottings|newspaper=Ouyen and North-West Express|date=28 April 1933|page=9}}</ref>  He declined the offer but just after the commencement of the 1934 season he was transferred to [[Geelong, Victoria|Geelong]] as a result of his job.<ref>{{cite news|title=Football jottings|newspaper=Ouyen and North-West Express|date=23 May 1934|page=4}}</ref>
He joined Geelong Second Eighteens at the start of 1935. After a number of good performances Blair was promoted to the seniors for round 10 against [[North Melbourne Football Club|North Melbourne]], one of several changes to cover a spate of injuries.<ref>{{cite news|title=L. Metherell back|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12253184|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=The Argus|date=28 June 1935|page=12}}</ref> He was selected again for round 18, Geelong's final match of the season. Blair's last appearance for Geelong was in the losing 1935 Second Eighteens Grand Final side.
Transferred again for work in October 1935 he moved to Melbourne.<ref>{{cite news|title=Geelong player transferred|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11775964|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=The Argus|date=11 October 1935|page=13}}</ref> Both [[Melbourne Football Club|Melbourne]] and North Melbourne were granted permission to approach Blair in 1936 but he was not listed by either club and joined Fairfield in the sub-district competition.<ref>{{cite news|title=League sub-districts|url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11070888|access-date=8 January 2014|newspaper=The Argus|date=10 June 1937|page=10}}</ref>
==Umpiring career==
Blair was appointed to the VFL list of boundary umpires in 1940. He made his VFL debut in the round two match [[St Kilda Football Club|St Kilda]] versus Hawthorn becoming the 254th boundary umpire in VFL history.
In early 1942, having umpired 26 VFL matches, Blair was called up for full-time service with the [[Australian Army Reserve|CMF]] and later transferred to the [[Second Australian Imperial Force|AIF]]. A telegraphist by trade he served in the Australian Army Postal Unit until discharged in August 1946. His later Army postings to Melbourne allowed him to return to boundary umpiring and he officiated in 15 matches during the 1945 season.<ref>{{cite book|title=Blair, William Daniel. NAA: B883, VX120799|url=http://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=6095977&O=I}}</ref>
==References==
{{reflist}}
==External links==
*{{AFL Tables|ref=B/Billy_Blair.html}}
*{{cite web|url=http://aflua.com.au/statistics/boundary-umpire-statistics/| title=William Blair| date=13 June 2013| publisher=AFL Umpires Association}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Blair, Billy}}
[[Category:1912 births]]
[[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)]]
[[Category:Geelong Football Club players]]
[[Category:Australian Football League umpires]]
[[Category:1960 deaths]]
[[Category:Australian Army personnel of World War II]]
[[Category:Military personnel from Victoria (state)]]