Max Wheeler (footballer)
Australian rules footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (21 May 1912 – 17 June 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He played only one VFL game, against Melbourne.[1][2]
Coleraine, Victoria, Australia
Merdjayoun, French Lebanon
| Max Wheeler | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler | ||
| Born |
21 May 1912 Coleraine, Victoria, Australia | ||
| Died |
17 June 1941 (aged 29) Merdjayoun, French Lebanon | ||
| Original team | Ballarat Football Club | ||
| Position | Forward pocket | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1937 | Hawthorn | 1 (0) | |
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1937. | |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Family
The son of Herbert John Wheeler (1877–1947),[3][4] and Eliza Lousia Wheeler (1878–1975), née James, Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler was born at Coleraine, Victoria on 21 May 1912.[5]
He married Margaret Isabel Lingham (1914–1998) in 1937.[6] They had three children: Maxine, Alan and Mabel.
Football
Wheeler topped the Ballarat-Wimmera Football League goalkicking total in 1936 with 107 goals.[7]
Hawthorn managed to secure a permit from Ballarat for Wheeler to play on a Monday in June 1937.[8] He played on a split round weekend in which the Hawks and Melbourne played at Glenferrie Oval. The following week he was dropped and lined up in the reserves. A few weeks later while playing in the seconds Wheeler had his arm broken, which finished his season.[9]
Wheeler returned from Hawthorn and played with North Ballarat FC[10] and he topped the Ballarat Football League goalkicking in 1938 with 93 goals and in 1939, 93 goals.
In 1938, Wheeler kicked 17 goals in a match against the Ballarat CYMS FC.[11]
Military service
He enlisted in the Second AIF on 24 July 1940, and served in the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.[1]
Death
He was killed in action at Merdjayoun, in French Lebanon, on 17 June 1941, serving with the Second AIF.[1][12]
