HEAPHY, Bill

Bill Heaphy was a talented all-round sportsman from Tatura who was regarded as the best footballer in the Goulburn Valley. He came to Essendon from West Melbourne towards the end of 1908. Prior to that he had been at Tatura.

A forward, he played five games with Essendon, including the 1908 Grand Final in the forward pocket in only his second senior appearance. He was only 19 years old.

Heaphy was cleared to Brunswick in mid-1909 and he played in their premiership side in that year.

Ill health forced his early retirement and he spent some time in a Melbourne hospital before returning to Kyabram where his father ran the Commercial Hotel.

Heaphy died in tragic circumstances on 21st May, 1914, aged only 25. He had been under medical treatment for a heart condition and the coroner's verdict was that he had taken poison by mistake instead of his prescribed medication.