Career : 1889 - 1899, 1901
Debut : Round 2, 1897 vs South Melbourne, aged 30 years, 30 days
Carlton Player No. 25
Games : 34 /105 VFA
Goals : 1 / 32 approx VFA
Last Game : Round 5, 1901 vs St Kilda, aged 34 years, 40 days
Height : ?
Weight : ?
DOB : April 15, 1867
DOD : March 03, 1949 Royal Park
Carlton Captain (VFA) 1894
Peter Francis Williams came to Carlton in 1890* from Ballarat, and was something of a sensation when he kicked 20 goals in his debut year. Playing in a variety of positions, he was soon a star of the team, and in 1894, he was made captain of the club.
His leadership though, was not without controversy. For some unexplained reason, Williams and one of his team-mates failed to turn up for a match against Collingwood at Victoria Park, prompting the Australasian to write; “When will Carlton regain its lost position in the domain of football? Certainly not while it’s executive continues to place its reliance on men who will only serve when the humour takes them. Surely the old club had a right to expect more consideration from Peter Williams, if not Thompson, than to be left in the lurch against Collingwood?”
Probably because of that affair, Williams lost the captaincy after only one season, but stayed on the roster of players. He was 30 years old when Carlton joined the breakaway VFL in 1897, and it was soon obvious that his experience and on-field leadership were sorely needed.
He was recalled to the team to make his VFL debut in round 2 of the new league, when Carlton took on South Melbourne at the Lake Oval. Playing at half-back, Williams was a stumbling block for the Bloods all afternoon, although the home side eventually won a cliff-hanger by 4 points. He went on to play 11 matches that year, and another 22 before he retired in 1899. Carlton had finished second-last on the ladder in all of those seasons, and the future looked bleak.
Some 18 months later however, at the age of 34, Williams made a short-lived comeback for the Blues against St Kilda in round 5, 1901. On a miserably cold and wet afternoon at Princes Park, Carlton kicked 5.10 (40) to beat the Saints 2.8 (20). Williams kicked his one and only VFL career goal from a half-forward flank, and retired for good on a winning note.
.* Origins of Australian Football Vol 5 has Williams playing 94 VFA games between 1888-1895. Other details indicate that he played 11 games in 1889 which may not have been counted, this would take his tally of senior games to 105 plus the 34 in the VFL.
1889 July 20
"After teams had been photographed"
A newly found (August 2023) Carlton team photo has surfaced. Maybe of this team?
Williams made his debut against Richmond on the East Melbourne Cricket Ground, Carlton won 8.13 - 5.6
1890. C.F.C. Annual Report, Williams scored 20 goals during the season.
1891. Helped lift the Dark Blues to second position, and on July 11 declined to play against South Melbourne as water covered most of the ground. (Carlton won 2.5 to 0.4.)
1891. C.F.C. Annual Report, Williams scored 7 goals during the season.
1892. Among Carlton's best players.
1893. Loss through injury during the season.
1893. C.F.C. Annual Report, Williams scored 3 goals during the season.
1894. Peter Williams newly appointed Captain, even let the club down by not turning up to play against Collingwood at Victoria park.
1894. Williams played well at times.
(The Carlton Story, H.Buggy and H.Bell p69,71,72,73,74)
1895. The V.F.A. Permit Committee refused P. Williams a transfer from Carlton to South Melbourne.
1896 The North Melbourne Gazette May 01, mentions that Peter Williams may be playing for North this season.
1904 On the Port Melbourne side Peter Williams, the old Carlton general, and Joe Garbutt will be seen.(The Herald July 01 p2)
1924. P. Williams played in an old players match at the M.C.G. on September 26.
Footnote
The Richmond Guardian January 20 1917 (p7) mentions that Carlton champion Peter Williams was, in his younger days, captain of Parkville Juniors.Links
Articles: Carlton in NSW, 1890Blueseum: Summary of playing statistics for Peter Williams | Pre VFL Players | Pre VFL Captains | Williams' Blueseum Image Gallery