{{short description|Australian rules footballer, journalist and commentator}} {{Use dmy dates|date=May 2022}} {{Use Australian English|date=July 2016}} {{Infobox AFL biography | name = Wallace Sharland | image = Wallacesharland.png | image_size = 150 | alt = | caption = | fullname = Wallace Sutherland Sharland | nickname = Jumbo | birth_date = {{birth date|1902|10|11|df=yes}} | birth_place = [[Geelong, Victoria]] | death_date = {{death date and age|1967|9|17|1902|10|11|df=yes}} | death_place = [[Richmond, Victoria]] | originalteam = [[Newtown & Chilwell Football Club|Newtown]] | height = 191&nbsp;cm | weight = 83&nbsp;kg | position = Ruckman | statsend = 1925 | years1 = 1920–1925 | club1 = [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] | games_goals1 = 49 (41) | sooyears1 = 1921–1923 | sooteam1 = [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victoria]] | soogames_goals1 = 4 | careerhighlights = }} '''Wallace Sutherland Sharland''' (11 October 1902 – 17 September 1967) was an [[Australian rules football]] player, journalist and commentator. He played with [[Geelong Football Club|Geelong]] in the [[Victorian Football League (1897–1989)|Victorian Football League]] (VFL).<ref name="Biography">{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184827185 |title=To See the World. |newspaper=[[The Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=17 October 1925 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=4|edition=Stumps |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Sharland, who was commonly known by his nickname '"Jumbo", was recruited from [[Newtown & Chilwell Football Club|Newtown]].<ref>{{cite book|last1=Holmesby|first1=Russell|last2=Main|first2=Jim|title=The Encyclopedia of AFL Footballers| publisher=BAS Publishing|year=2007|isbn=9781920910785}}</ref>

==Geelong years== Sharland was an accomplished ruckman for Geelong, known for his good all-round skills, accurate palming of the ball and capability when required as a ruck shepherd. He debuted for Geelong aged 17 in the [[1920 VFL season]] and in the same year joined the staff of the ''[[Geelong Advertiser]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article83936744 |title=Personal. |newspaper=[[Zeehan and Dundas Herald]] |location=Tasmania |date=21 August 1920 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

His skills as a [[cricket]]er came into attention on 29 January 1921 when he scored a century against England's touring [[Marylebone Cricket Club]] (MCC).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165757450 |title=Wallace Sharland's Century. |newspaper=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |location=Victoria |date=1 February 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Playing for Geelong, Sharland scored 102 runs out of Geelong's total of 261 in their tour match at [[Corio Oval]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://cricketarchive.com/Archive/Scorecards/135/135516.html|title=Geelong v Marylebone Cricket Club in 1920/21|publisher=CricketArchive|accessdate=3 October 2015}}</ref> His innings, which was scored as an 18-year-old, earned praise from opponent [[Jack Hobbs]] who stated that Sharland "is a hard man to get out" and "is developing on the right lines".<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article1734650 |title=Englishmen at Geelong. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=31 January 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He was awarded an inscribed bat from the [[Mayor of Geelong]] to commemorate his achievement.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75948094 |title=A Rising Young Athlete. |newspaper=[[Mornington Standard|Frankston and Somerville Standard]] |location=Victoria |date=4 February 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=1 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> ''[[The Age]]'' wrote an article stating that despite his young age Sharland could justifiably be selected in the [[Victoria cricket team|Victorian side]] which were due to play the MCC on 4 February.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article201700942 |title=Victoria V. England. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |date=31 January 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He however did not make the team and instead it was as a football personality that he made his name. [[File:Jumbosharland.png|left|180px|thumb|Sharland in Geelong colours]] After making five appearances in his first VFL season, Sharland received more opportunities in 1921, with 13 games for Geelong.<ref name="AFLTables">{{cite web|url=http://afltables.com/afl/stats/players/W/Wallace_Sharland_gm.html|title=AFL Tables – Wallace Sharland – Games Played|publisher=AFLTables|accessdate=3 October 2015}}</ref> He made enough of an impression to be in the [[Follower (Australian rules football)|first-ruck]] in the [[Victoria Australian rules football team|Victorian state side]] which went to Adelaide in August to defeat [[South Australia Australian rules football team|South Australia]] and also feature in the return leg at the [[Melbourne Cricket Ground]] (MCG).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article165778668 |title=Football. |newspaper=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |location=Victoria |date=10 August 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4674381 |title=Football. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=15 August 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=11 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> In September 1921 he played his first final, which was a semi-final fixture against [[Richmond Football Club|Richmond]] at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Richmond won by 61-points to end Geelong's season.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article4648963 |title=Triumph of Earnestness. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=26 September 1921 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He played a further eight games with Geelong in the [[1922 VFL season]].<ref name="AFLTables"/>

Sharland made his intentions known before the beginning of the [[1923 VFL season|1923 season]] that he was seeking to join a Melbourne-based club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166005157 |title=Sharland's Clearance. |newspaper=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |location=Victoria |date=2 March 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had moved to the city and been employed for the upcoming season as a writer for the ''Herald'' and ''[[The Sporting Globe]]''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75953222 |title=On the Wing. |newspaper=[[Mornington Standard|Frankston and Somerville Standard]] |location=Victoria |date=11 April 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184806542 |title=Club Colors. |newspaper=[[The Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=14 April 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> His playing future was not decided until July, by which time he had fallen foul of the Geelong committee. The committee had been initially aggrieved by that fact he pulled out of a game against Essendon claiming to have a sore heel, but was able to represent Victoria against New South Wales a week later.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203636237 |title=Football. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |date=6 July 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=14 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> When it was revealed that Sharland had trained at Richmond without permission, the week before he took the field for Geelong against that same team, the Geelong committee debarred him from the club.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166014184 |title=Sharland's Football Position. |newspaper=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |location=Victoria |date=7 July 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Unable to play in the VFL without a clearance, Sharland was forced to play in the [[Mornington Peninsula Nepean Football League|Mornington Peninsula league]] with Frankston, where he was residing.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75954967 |title=Sharland and the League. |newspaper=[[Mornington Standard|Frankston and Somerville Standard]] |location=Victoria |date=25 July 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article75954588 |title=Wallace Sharland. |newspaper=[[Mornington Standard|Frankston and Somerville Standard]] |location=Victoria |date=4 July 1923 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

Further attempts were made by Richmond in 1924 to acquire Sharland, but Geelong continued to refuse his clearance.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article203657881 |title=Johns and Sharland Case. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |date=25 April 1924 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=7 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> As a result, he made a decision to commit to Geelong for the season and was in the side from round two.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article140752548 |title=The Opening Days. |newspaper=[[The Australasian]] |location=Melbourne |date=26 April 1924 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=33|edition=Metropolitan |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article166060224 |title=Delighted the Spectators. |newspaper=[[Geelong Advertiser]] |location=Victoria |date=22 April 1924 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Sharland, who was also given the vice-captaincy, finished the season with a career high 15 appearances.<ref name="AFLTables"/> Although not selected as a player, Sharland got to attend the [[1924 Hobart Carnival]] as a special correspondent for ''The Sporting Globe''.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article185068498 |title=The Carnival. |newspaper=[[The Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=6 August 1924 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

For the [[1925 VFL season]], Sharland's last at Geelong, he was again appointed vice-captain.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article155755217 |title=Coaches and Captains Meet. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |date=23 April 1925 |accessdate=3 October 2015 |page=12 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> A wrist injury which he sustained early in the season restricted him to just four games and cost him a place in Geelong's breakthrough [[1925 VFL Grand Final|1925 premiership team]].<ref name="Biography"/><ref name="AFLTables"/> He instead covered the finals series as a radio [[Sports commentator|commentator]], on [[Australian Broadcasting Corporation|ABC]] station 3AR.<ref name="Pioneer">{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=1300&dat=19640416&id=rPgoAAAAIBAJ&sjid=oZYDAAAAIBAJ&pg=6897,2802724&hl=en|title=Pioneer remembers first broadcasts...|date=16 April 1964|work=[[The Age]]|accessdate=4 October 2015}}</ref> In doing so he created history as the first radio commentator to broadcast a VFL game.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.theage.com.au/news/in-depth/radio-waves/2006/08/04/1154198329165.html|title=Radio waves – In Depth|last=Green|first=Jonathan|date=5 August 2006|work=[[The Age]]|accessdate=3 October 2015}}</ref> He broadcast the grand final from the back of the MCG's Grey Smith Stand and later recalled: "There was no sound-proof box and the sound accompaniment was pretty fierce when the excitement rose".<ref name="Pioneer"/>

==Later broadcasting career== [[File:Wallace Sharland, August 1937.png|right|300px|thumb|Wallace Sharland during a broadcast]] Sharland continued as a journalist and commentator after ending his VFL career. In 1933 he left ''The Sporting Globe'' to concentrate on wireless broadcasting for the ABC<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article181748724 |title=His New Role |newspaper=[[Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=2 December 1933 |accessdate=4 October 2015 |page=6 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> and later [[3XY]]. He is recognised as a pioneer football commentator on radio. His successor at the ''Sporting Globe'' was [[J. M. Rohan]].

==How did Preston Football Club become known as the "Bullants"?== It is believed that [[Victorian Football Association]] club [[Preston Football Club (VFA)|Preston]] became known as the Bullants after Sharland referred to the club's players during commentary as a "group of busy bullants".<ref name="Fiddian">{{cite book|last=Fiddian|first=Marc|title=The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877–1995|year=2013|publisher=Melbourne Sports Books|page=93}}</ref> The quote was based on the Preston players being small in stature and the fact they wore a red uniform.<ref name="Fiddian"/>

==Personal life== Born in [[Geelong, Victoria]] on 11 October 1902, he was the son of James Sutherland Sharland, an engineer, and Jane Armstrong Sharland (née Little).<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article22526174 |title=Obituary. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=13 February 1948 |accessdate=29 August 2015 |page=5 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> He had one elder brother, James Leonard Woodrofe, and two sisters, Dorothy and Jean.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11283771 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=[[The Argus (Melbourne)|The Argus]] |location=Melbourne |date=9 November 1939 |accessdate=29 August 2015 |page=4 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

In 1910, Sharland joined his brother at [[Geelong College]].<ref name="GeelongCollege">{{cite web|url=http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/SHARLAND-Wallace-Sutherland-1902-1967.ashx|title=Sharland, Wallace Sutherland (1902–1967)|publisher=Heritage Guide to The Geelong College|accessdate=3 October 2015|archive-date=4 March 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304071514/http://gnet.geelongcollege.vic.edu.au:8080/wiki/SHARLAND-Wallace-Sutherland-1902-1967.ashx|url-status=dead}}</ref> He made the cricket team's 1st XI at the age of 13 and later in 1918 began playing in the firsts for the football team as well.<ref name="GeelongCollege"/>

He got married in 1934 to Ada Moore, in a ceremony in East Malvern.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article184274511 |title="Jumbo" Sharland Married. |newspaper=[[The Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=3 February 1934 |accessdate=4 October 2015 |page=2|edition=Stumps |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref> Ada died in 1949.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article205352926 |title=Family Notices. |newspaper=[[The Age]] |location=Melbourne |date=21 March 1949 |accessdate=4 October 2015 |page=2 |via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

During World War II Sharland served in the Middle East and Pacific.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=464653|title=World War II Nominal Roll|publisher=Government of Australia|accessdate=3 October 2015|archive-date=5 October 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151005090501/http://www.ww2roll.gov.au/Veteran.aspx?serviceId=A&veteranId=464653|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article180310690 |title=Sportsmen Write from Papua. |newspaper=[[The Sporting Globe]] |location=Melbourne |date=25 November 1942 |accessdate=4 October 2015 |page=13|edition=1, Section: Cricket Section|via=National Library of Australia}}</ref>

On 17 September 1967, Sharland died in [[Epworth Hospital|Bethesda Hospital]] at the age of 64.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://news.google.com/newspapers?nid=MDQ-9Oe3GGUC&dat=19670919&printsec=frontpage&hl=en|title=Deaths|date=19 September 1967|work=[[The Age]]|page=20|accessdate=3 October 2015}}</ref>

==References== {{reflist}}

==External links== {{Commons category}} *{{AFL Tables|ref=W/Wallace_Sharland.html}} *{{AustralianFootball|ref=Wally%2BSharland/3784}} *{{Cricketarchive|id=601464}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Sharland, Wallace}} [[Category:1902 births]] [[Category:1967 deaths]] [[Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)]] [[Category:Australian Rules footballers: place kick exponents]] [[Category:Geelong Football Club players]] [[Category:Newtown Football Club players]] [[Category:Australian rules football commentators]] [[Category:Australian sportswriters]] [[Category:People educated at Geelong College]] [[Category:Australian military personnel of World War II]] [[Category:Richmond cricketers]] [[Category:Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio journalists and presenters]] [[Category:20th-century Australian sportsmen]]