AUSTRALIA’S most notorious bushranger may have been a gun centre-half back.



A keen Kelly historian has drawn fire over suggestions convicted cop killer Ned Kelly played a season of footy for Williamstown.

Seagulls president and city barrister Trevor Monti, QC, says the convicted criminal was even on track to win the club’s best and fairest — only to get reported for headbutting an umpire in his last game.

“He was a tough centre-half back with unconventional tactics,” Mr Monti said.

It’s understood Kelly played 11 games for the squad in 1873 — seven years before the infamous Glenrowan shoot-out that earned him a page in the history books — and a spot at the gallows.

media_camera Ned Kelly was apparently on track to win the best and fairest at Williamstown Football Club.

There are no records to prove Kelly’s love of the game — but it is known that the bushranger was just 17 when he served time aboard the floating prison hulk Sacremento, docked at Point Gellibrand.

“The history books record he came ashore each day to work on construction of the sea walls and later on the artillery bunkers next door to the football grounds,” Mr Monti said.

He said Kelly played between June and January 1874 as he served out the final months of his sentence.

But not everybody at the club is convinced. Seagulls CEO executive Brendan Curry is among the sceptics.

And Melbourne barrister and historian Ken Oldis said it was unlikely.

“As far as playing footy I have never, ever heard anybody talk about that,” Mr Oldis said.

“He was there for less than six months and only a few of those months would have been the footy season.

“Somehow, I don’t think they would have let him out for pre-season training or practice games.’’

He said records proved Kelly returned to Pentridge after his prison stint at Williamstown and then returned immediately to his family home in Greta in Victoria’s northeast.

Kelly was taken into custody and eventually hanged for his crimes after shooting dead three police officers.

Mr Monti, who was responsible for writing the first official summary of the Kelly trial published in 1981, stands by claims the bushranger did not receive a fair trial and that he shot the police officers in self-defence.

aaron.langmaid@news.com.au