One of the heroes of SA football golden era, Fred Bills, has died

FRED Bills, an SA football Hall of Famer, has died. He was part of SANFL league football’s golden era in the 1960s and 1970s.

EAGLE GREAT. West Torrens ruckman John Frederick “Fred” Bills, one of Torrens' finest players through 313 league games and seven for South Australia from 1959-75, has died.

FRED Bills, one of the great larrikins and grand achievers of SA league football’s golden era, has died. He was 76.

Bills, a 313-game ruckman for West Torrens (1959-1975), will be remembered for the mark he left on and off the field from a time when football was built on fun.

“And Fred was a lot of fun,” recalled former AFL chief executive and fellow West Torrens great Wayne Jackson.

“Mischievous, a great sense of humour and a good bloke everyone enjoyed meeting.

“But Fred also was one of the strongest blokes you could have in your football team. He was a super star.”

Bills’ achievements - that include four best-and-fairest titles with the Eagles (1961, 1964, 1970 and 1972) - earned him SA Football Hall of Fame status.

His most memorable moment - that emphasised his long-standing reputation of playing with injuries, in particular with a wrist - was in one of his seven State games. In Perth in 1962, with SA reduced to 16 fit players and 12 points down against WA, Bills ignored the profuse bleeding from his mouth to carry the SA team to a rare victory at Subiaco Oval with an extraordinary last-quarter effort.

Bills also was a member of the famous 1963 SA team that beat the VFL State team on the MCG. He played a vital role with his strong frame to ensuring SA ruckman Bill Wedding had a free run at the ball.

“Fred was extremely loyal,” Jackson remembered of Bills who stood by the Eagles despite West Torrens having little success on the field. He played in just four SANFL finals with no win.

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