Williams heads Swans Hall of Fame inductees
Paul Williams, Ron Hillis and Jim Taylor have tonight been inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame
Williams, who came to the Sydney Swans after 189 games with Collingwood between 1991 and 2000, won the Swans’ Club Champion award in his first two seasons (2001-2002), was named All Australian in 2003 and played a vital role in the 2005 premiership win.
Known for his link play out of defence, Williams’ creativity, pace and football nouse also gave the Swans an extra edge around the packs they had been lacking in the previous seasons before his arrival.
Sadly, Williams was forced into retirement after he broke a collarbone early in 2006.
Hillis, who joined South Melbourne from local club Middle Park as a full-forward in the late 1920s, developed into one of the greatest full-backs to play for the Club.
A brilliant mark and magnificent kick, Hillis won the Best and Fairest in 1930 and his duels with Collingwood goal kicking champion Gordon ‘Nuts’ Coventry were legendery – often getting the better of the AFL Hall of Famer.
Hillis represented Victoria on four occasions, but never played in a South premiership side, missing the 1933 triumph because of injury and, inexplicably, was overlooked for the team defeated by Collingwood in the 1934 Grand Final.
He went on to claim a second Best and Fairest award in 1935, before retiring in 1937 after 137 games in the red and white.
A talented junior high jumper, Taylor worked his way through the ranks at South Melbourne; after beginning in the Fourths, he made his senior debut in 1949.
After playing seven games in his first season, Taylor’s outstanding leap and strong marking – as well as his ability to float through centre half-forward – saw him develop into a reliable and fearless ruckman.
A regular Victoria representative, Taylor won the Swans’ Best and Fairest awards in 1953 and 1957, and developed a strong partnership with Bloods Legend, Bob Skilton.
Taylor retired at the end of the 1961 season and became a highly-respected media commentator as a panel member on Channel Seven’s “World of Sport”.
Tonight's trio of inductees take the number of South Melbourne/Sydney Swans players inducted into the Swans Hall of Fame to 57, including Bloods Legends Bob Pratt, Bob Skilton, Peter Bedford and Paul Kelly.
Paul Williams
Paul Williams tribute video
2001-2006
117 games
84 goals
Best & Fairest 2001, 2002
All Australian 2003
2005 premiership
Jim Taylor
Jim Taylor tribute video
1949-1954; 1956-1961
153 games
35 goals
Best & Fairest 1953, 1957
Ron Hillis
Ron Hillis tribute video
1929-1937
137 games
16 goals
Best & Fairest 1930, 1935