Wills & Harrison - Aussie Rules casual clothing, products and gifts for YOU to join in celebrating the history and origins of Australian Rules Football. ALL PRODUCTS ARE LIMITED EDITION!

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Wills & Harrison
Fathers of Australian Rules Football 1858

On July 10, 1858 Thomas Wills, at almost 23 years old and already a champion Victorian cricketer had one of many letters published in Bells Life sporting magazine, but this particular one famously stated that we should play 'a game of our own'. Wills wanted a new sport to help keep cricketers fit during the winter off season but didn't like the way Rugby, Gaelic and other ball games were played at the time. Wills organised and umpired a number of football type games, but the August 7, 1858 match between Scotch College and Melbourne Grammar became known as the first officially recognised football match. They played in a Richmond paddock close to where the MCG is today, with a scrappy game lasting three days over three weekends.

This is an engraving of men and boys playing football on the Richmond paddock and comes from the Illustrated Melbourne Post of 1866.

Wills also played football and along with his brother-in-law Henry “Coley” Harrison they became the early "champions of the the colony". This accolade later became the Brownlow medal. Thomas Wentworth Wills, William J. Hammersley, James B. Thompson and Thomas Smith (some sources include Henry Colden Antill Harrison) formed Australia's first football committee and codified the first rules in the Parade Hotel on May 17,1859. These were known as the Melbourne Football Rules which in turn lead to the formation of the Melbourne Football Club. Harrison later lead the committee that drafted the revised Football rules of 1866 which introduced the requirement to bounce the ball and became known as the Victorian Football Rules. Harrison continued as a successful player and administrator of Australian football. He was champion of the colony five times between 1862 -1869. He was president of the Melbourne Footbal Club from 1897 - 1906. From a colony of convicts and immigrants came a “game of our own” ...Australian Rules Football. History of Australian Rules Football

Check out the new book by Greg de Moore - Tom Wills, His Spectacular Rise and Tragic Fall

Wills & Harrison - Contact Information

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General Information: shop@wh1858.com

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About Us

The Wills & Harrison brand was created to recognise the original fathers of Aussie Rules Football, to reflect on the historical significance of their vision, actions and persistence and to celebrate what has become the greatest spectator sport in Australia.

What We Do

Wills & Harrison produce a range of clothing and other products for those with a passion for Australian Rules Football. The game itself follows the colonisation of Australia and has developed along with all Australians. In Australia footy is apart of our lives and a way of life. No Australian alive today has ever known life without football. The men Tom Wills & Henry Harrison are known as the fathers of Australian Rules Football and as a brand we reflect on those origins with quality products reminiscent of those early days.

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Wills & Harrison, Wills & Harrison Aussie Rules Since 1858, and Wills & Harrison Fathers of Australian Rules Football 1858 and the image of the footballer kicking are all registered (R) Trade Marks. All rights are reserved.