Playing Career: 1899 - 1904
Debut : Round 1, 1899 v South Melbourne, aged 22 years, 338 days
Carlton Player No.: 68
Games: 69
Goals: 8
Last game: Round 7, 1904 v Essendon, aged 28 years, 3 days
Height: ? cm
Weight: ? kgs
DOB: June 8, 1876
Debuting in 1899 McNamara played 69 games and kicked 8 goals. He was born in Belfast (Port Fairy), and recruited to Carlton from Brunswick.
"Surrounded by his 11 grandchildren and 10 great grandchildren, Mr. Bill McNamara celebrated his 80th. birthday at the Reservoir home of his son, Patrick, last night.
Mr. McNamara, who was captain of the Carlton team in 1902, was not one to whit disappointment over Carlton's one point defeat on Saturday.
'The better side won on the day,' he said, but he still thinks Carlton a grand team and never misses one of their matches.
'Still, today's boys don't play the game as hard as we did.' 'It's a bit like the game of tigggy now. They're inclind to tig rather than dump their opponent,' he chuckled.
In 1902, Mr. McNamara represented Victoria in the interstate team. He retired in 1904 and umpired for the following 10 years. He was also a committee member for several years." (Argus June 11 p8)
Carlton Acting Captain for two matches, 1902 Rounds 3 & 4. (a win & a loss.)
Carlton Vice Captain from July 12 1902
Carlton Committeeman 1904-1905
V.F.L. Umpire 1906-1910 officiated in 104 VFL games, mostly as a boundary umpire.
Bill was running the boundary in the Carlton - Collingwood 1910 Grand Final.
McNamara passed away on the 21st November, 1959 aged 83.
W. McNamara (a former player) was elected onto the committee at the February AGM 1929, if this is the same person then he would have been 53.