Bert Mills
Australian rules footballer, born 1910
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Albert Edward Mills (16 February 1910 – 6 May 1984) was an Australian rules footballer who played for and captained Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Wahgunyah, Victoria
| Bert Mills | |||
|---|---|---|---|
|
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Albert Edward Mills | ||
| Born |
16 February 1910 Wahgunyah, Victoria | ||
| Died | 6 May 1984 (aged 74) | ||
| Original teams | Bethanga, Wangaratta | ||
| Height | 180 cm (5 ft 11 in) | ||
| Weight | 86 kg (190 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1930–1942 | Hawthorn | 196 (60) | |
| Coaching career | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1940–1941 | Hawthorn | 36 (10–26–0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1942. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Football career
Mills and his older brother Arthur began their careers playing for Bethanga in the 1926 and 1927 Kiewa & District Football Association grand finals.[1][2][3][4] The Mills family then moved to Oxley, near Wangaratta, and the pair played with nearby Wangaratta Football Club in 1929.[5][6] In 1930, both brothers made their debuts for the Hawthorn Football Club. Bert Mills won Hawthorn's 'most consistent player' award in his first season of VFL football.[7]
Mills usually played as a ruckman, but was also used at centre half-back. He captained Hawthorn at various times during his career, beginning in 1932, and then in single seasons during 1934 and 1938 before his final stint from 1940 until 1941 as captain-coach.[8][9]
During his time at Hawthorn, Mills won their best and fairest award three times, in 1933, 1935 and 1939.[10][11] Mills was also presented with a life membership medallion in 1939.[12][8] He represented Victoria in interstate football, doing so on 11 occasions.[8] In 1936, Mills won Hawthorn's 'most popular player' award, which was sponsored by the Hoyts Palace Theatre, Glenferrie.[13]
He was named on the back pocket in Hawthorn's official 'Team of the Century'.
Honours and achievements
- 3× Hawthorn best and fairest: 1933, 1935, 1939
- Hawthorn captain: 1932, 1934, 1938, 1940–1941
- Hawthorn Hall of Fame
- Hawthorn Team of the Century
- Hawthorn life member
