{{Use Australian English|date=September 2012}} {{Use dmy dates|date=September 2021}} {{Short description|Australian rules footballer (born 1949)}} {{Infobox person | name = Les Stillman | image = | alt = | caption = | birth_name = William Leslie Stillman | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1949|10|5|df=yes}} | birth_place = Alexandra, Victoria, Australia |module={{Infobox cricketer | embed = yes | batting = Right-handed | bowling = | role = Batsman | club1 = Victoria | year1 = {{nowrap|1970/71–1975/76}} | club2 = South Australia | year2 = 1977/78 | columns = 2 | column1 = First-class | matches1 = 28 | runs1 = 1,299 | bat avg1 = 24.98 | 100s/50s1 = 0/9 | top score1 = 88* | deliveries1 = 40 | wickets1 = 0 | bowl avg1 = – | fivefor1 = – | tenfor1 = – | best bowling1 = – | catches/stumpings1 = 20/0 | column2 = List A | matches2 = 3 | runs2 = 29 | bat avg2 = 9.66 | 100s/50s2 = 0/0 | top score2 = 23 | deliveries2 = 56 | wickets2 = 2 | bowl avg2 = 25.00 | fivefor2 = 0 | tenfor2 = 0 | best bowling2 = 2/50 | catches/stumpings2 = 3/0 | date = 5 November | year = 2022 | source = https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Players/11/11503/11503.html CricketArchive }} |module2={{Infobox AFL biography | embed = yes | height = 183 cm | weight = 78 kg | position = Forward | statsend = 1977 | years1 = 1968–1970 | club1 = {{AFL Ess}} | games_goals1 = 24 {{0}}(32) | years2 = 1971 | club2 = {{AFL Foo}} | games_goals2 = {{0}}3 {{0|00}}(1) | years3 = 1971–1975 | club3 = Williamstown (VFA) | games_goals3 = 64 (114) | years4 = 1975–1977 | club4 = Coburg (VFA) | games_goals4 = 22 {{0}}(30) | careerhighlights = }} }}
'''William Leslie Stillman''' (born 5 October 1949) is a former Australian first-class cricketer who represented Victoria and South Australia. He also played Australian rules football for Essendon and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
==Football career== Originally from Alexandra, where he won the 1963 and 1964 Waranga North East Football Association Thirds best and fairest award. During his time as a VFL footballer Les Stillman played mainly as a half forward. After making his league debut in 1968, Stillman was a semi regular in the Essendon team in 1969 and 1970. His best performance in a game came against Carlton in the opening round of the 1970 VFL season when he kicked six goals.
Stillman crossed to Footscray in 1971 and played three senior games there. He then captained Williamstown in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) until 1975, twice placing in the J. J. Liston Trophy count (third in 1973<ref name="liston">{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=30 August 1973|title=Rookie wins award|page=30|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author=John Holland}}</ref> and second in 1974<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|date=29 August 1974|title=Outsider shocks in Liston|page=26|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author1=Tom Jacob|author2=Marc Fiddian}}</ref>), and winning the club best and fairest in 1972 and 1973.<ref>{{citation|title=Seagulls over Williamstown|last=Fiddian|first=Marc|year=2003|publisher=Williamstown Football Club|publication-place=Williamstown, VIC|page=179}}</ref> He resigned the captaincy during 1975 after a disagreement with club hierarchy over the ongoing tenure of coach Ted Whitten,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Stillman resigns as Seagulls captain|page=28|date=5 July 1975|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC}}</ref> and was cleared to Coburg,<ref>{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author=Ken Piesse|date=27 June 1975|page=25|title=Waverley exercises right to Cruse}}</ref> where he played the rest of his VFA career.
==Cricket career== His cricket career had begun with a solitary first-class match in 1970/71 but it was not until after leaving the VFL that he established a place in the Victorian Sheffield Shield team. A right-handed middle order batsman, he broke into the side again in 1974/75 and had a solid season with 451 runs at 30.06.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Events/AUS/Sheffield_Shield_1974-75/Batting_by_Average.html| title= Batting and Fielding in Sheffield Shield 1974/75 | publisher=CricketArchive}}</ref> He remained with Victoria for a further two Shield seasons but failed to register his maiden first-class hundred, although he managed a half century against a strong West Indian pace attack in a tour game.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/35/35685.html| title= Victoria v West Indians 1975/76 | publisher=CricketArchive}}</ref>
Stillman did not play any top level cricket from February 1976 to November 1977 and when he came back it was with South Australia, who he represented in the 1977/78 Sheffield Shield season. He would later return to Victoria as coach and also coached at English club Derbyshire.
==References== {{reflist}}
==External links== *{{cricinfo|id=7720}} *{{AFL Tables|ref=L/Les_Stillman.html}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Stillman, Les}} Category:1949 births Category:Living people Category:Australian cricketers Category:Victoria cricketers Category:South Australia cricketers Category:Australian cricket coaches Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) Category:Coburg Football Club players Category:Essendon Football Club players Category:Western Bulldogs players Category:Williamstown Football Club players Category:People from Alexandra, Victoria Category:Cricketers from Victoria (state) Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen