{{Short description|Australian rules footballer}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}} {{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}} {{Infobox AFL biography | name = Bill Snell | image = | birth_date = {{birth date|1927|3|23|df=yes}} | birth_place = | death_date = {{death date and age|2009|3|18|1927|3|23|df=yes}} | death_place = | originalteam = Mirboo North | debutdate = Round 1, 1950 | debutteam = Essendon | debutopponent = Fitzroy | debutstadium = Brunswick Street | height = 185 cm | weight = 84 kg | position = | statsend = 1952 | years1 = 1950–52 | club1 = Essendon | games_goals1 = 36 (16) | careerhighlights = }}
'''William Snell''' (23 March 1927 – 18 March 2009<ref>{{cite book|title=AFL Record Season Guide 2010|year=2010 |isbn=978-0-9806274-5-9|editor=Lovett, Michael|page=948}}</ref>) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Essendon in the VFL during the early 1950s.
A centre half forward, Snell made his debut in Dick Reynolds's 300th game. He was a member of Essendon's 1950 premiership team and also played in the side which lost the decider the following season. He suffered a serious head injury during a pre-season game before the 1951 season.<ref>{{Ref AFL Encyc|4th|610}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23042195 |title=Football star's injuries critical. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=16 April 1951 |accessdate=10 December 2013 |page=1 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Although doctors feared that he would never play football again, Snell returned to play the last eight games of the 1951 VFL season,<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article23055941 |title=DONS REGAIN STAR Snell wins back place. |newspaper=The Argus |location=Melbourne |date=3 August 1951 |accessdate=10 December 2013 |page=10 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref> including Essendon's loss to Geelong in the 1951 VFL Grand Final. He played a further eight games in 1952 before retiring from the VFL and going to coach the Stawell Football Club in 1953.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article72764384 |title=SNELL AT STAWELL. |newspaper=Horsham Times|location=Horsham|date=27 January 1953 |accessdate=10 December 2013 |page=3 |publisher=National Library of Australia}}</ref>
==References== {{Reflist}}
==External links== *{{AFL Tables|ref=B/Bill_Snell.html}}
{{1950 Essendon premiership players}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Snell, Bill}} Category:1927 births Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) Category:Essendon Football Club players Category:Essendon Football Club premiership players Category:2009 deaths Category:VFL/AFL premiership players Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen