John Somers Gill (19 April 1932 – 3 March 2003) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the Victorian Football League (VFL) from 1951 to 1957.
Recruited from the Longerenong Agricultural College in the Horsham District Football League, where he won the 1949 and 1950 league best and fairest award. Gill also played in Longerenong Agricultural College's losing 1949 Horsham District Football League grand final loss to Wonwondah
Gill made his VFL debut, two days after his nineteenth birthday, for Essendon's seniors in the first home-and-away match of the 1951 season, on 21 April 1951, when Essendon defeated Melbourne 13.8 (86) to 10.16 (76) at Windy Hill.1951 VFL season#Round 1
In 1952, Gill was officially the second tallest player in the VFL, just half an inch shorter than his Essendon team mate, Geoff Leek.Who are the 10 Tallest Footballers?, The Sporting Globe, (Wednesday, 21 May 1952), p. 12.Gossip from the League Grounds: Geoff Leek Tops all of the Tall Men, The Sporting Globe, (Saturday, 31 May 1952), p. 8.
He won the Crichton Medal in 1954, and finished third in that season's Brownlow Medal count.
He represented Victoria in 1954, 1955 and 1957.
Having missed the 1951 VFL grand final due to illness, he played in the 1957 VFL grand final, but was on the losing side. It turned out to be his last game of football as he retired at the age of just 25 to concentrate on his business career.
References
External links
John Gill profile via Essendon FC Past Players
Footystats Diary — Obituary: John Somers Gill 1954 - John Gill photo 1954 - John Gill & Jack Clarke photo 1955 - John Gill & Jack Clarke photo