Born in Northcote and almost universally known by the nickname 'Billy'. Played with Coburg in 1940 and '41, then managed a solitary senior game with Carlton in 1942.

He served as an aircraft mechanic in the RAAF in the Second World War and this severely restricted his appearances during those years. So it was often a case of him simply playing whenever and wherever he could get a game. This led to him playing two senior games with the Magpies in 1943.