Bill played pennant with South Melbourne and Clifton Hill and was also a talented footballer. He played 98 games for VFL club Collingwood and was runner up in the 1959 Brownlow Medal. It's fair to say that Bill's skill as a footballer meant that he could not devote as much time to handball in his younger days. Bill was an automatic inclusion in many Victorian teams and three times made the "Eight", twice as captain. At the Sydney carnival in 1974 he won the three wall doubles title with Des Jones. Those who took to the court against Bill always knew they were in for a fierce contest. For a big man he was lightning quick, often getting to balls from seemingly impossible positions, sometimes with his feet. Soon after his '74 doubles win with Des Jones, who could also foot what seemed a certain winner over the head of an opponent, it was no surprise that SA and NSW combined to banish kicking from the game.