Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 7, 2026

Alec Birrell

William Alexander Hamilton Birrell was a doctor and an Australian rules footballer who played for University in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

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Alec Birrell
Personal information
Full name William Alexander Hamilton Birrell
Born (1885-01-24)24 January 1885
Laen, Victoria
Died 11 May 1948(1948-05-11) (aged 63)
Heidelberg, Victoria
Original team Geelong College
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1911 University 1 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1911.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

William Alexander Hamilton Birrell (24 January 1885 – 11 May 1948) was a doctor and an Australian rules footballer who played for University in the Victorian Football League (VFL).1

The oldest son of Albert Veit Birrell and Christina Matheson, Alec Birrell was born in Laen (near Donald, Victoria) and was educated at Geelong College where he was a prominent member of the school football team.2

He proceeded to study medicine at the University of Melbourne3 and during his student years Birrell was promoted from the seconds to play one VFL match for University against South Melbourne in the first round of the 1911 VFL season.4

After graduating as a doctor in 1914, he served with the 20th Light Horse and British Royal Army Medical Corps in World War I.5 Upon his return to Australia, Birrell practiced in Nathalia for several years.6 Birrell was also Vice President of the Nathalia Football Club in 1923.7

Birrell later brought into a medical practice in Cheltenham, Victoria in 1927.8

In 1920, he married Mary Adela Lane9 and they had three children together. He died in the Repatriation Hospital in Heidelberg on 11 May 1948.10

References

References

  1. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2002). The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers: every AFL/VFL player since 1897 (4th ed.). Melbourne, Victoria: Crown Content. p. 47. ISBN 1-74095-001-1.
  2. "GEELONG COLLEGE FOOTBALL TEAM, 1904". Punch. Victoria, Australia. 6 October 1904. p. 17.
  3. "UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 20 November 1908. p. 7.
  4. "SOUTH MELBOURNE IN FORM". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 1 May 1911. p. 5.
  5. Cullen, Barbara (2015). Harder than football : league players at war. Richmond, Victoria: Slattery Media Group. p. 117. ISBN 978-0-9923791-4-8.
  6. "NATHALIA". Shepparton Advertiser. Victoria, Australia. 7 May 1923. p. 4.
  7. "1923 - Nathalia FC - AGM". Numurkah Leader. 7 March 1923. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  8. "1927 - Dr. Alec Birrell". Numurkah Leader. 30 March 1927. p. 2. Retrieved 23 April 2020 – via Trove Newspapers.
  9. "Family Notices". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 25 September 1920. p. 13.
  10. "Family Notices". The Argus. Victoria, Australia. 14 May 1948. p. 2.
External links