13 Facts About George O'Mullane

George Jeremiah Patrick O'Mullane was an Australian cricketer and Australian rules footballer.

George O'Mullane's promising career was cut short when he died of tuberculosis, aged 24.

George O'Mullane was born in Melbourne on 3 December 1842, of Anglo-Celtic descent.

George O'Mullane took up land speculation and became part-owner of the Port Phillip Gazette in the 1840s, and in 1852, purchased the Bourke Street residence of Sir Redmond Barry, the famous Supreme Court Judge and founder of the State Library of Victoria.

George O'Mullane joined the East Melbourne Cricket Club, which he went on to regularly captain, and was recognised as Victoria's premier wicket-keeper.

When several professional members of the Victoria XI defected to New South Wales ahead of the December 1865 intercolonial match between the two colonies, George O'Mullane was selected to play for Victoria at the insistence of its captain, Tom Wills.

George O'Mullane put in a career-best performance behind the wickets and ended on 33 not out in a thrilling partnership with Wills, who scored the first half century in intercolonial cricket, leading Victoria to an against-the-odds win.

George O'Mullane played in his last club cricket match in October 1866.

George O'Mullane got the ball down near the Melbourne Cricket Ground fence, ran round the east side of the cricket ground amongst the trees, and then came back surreptitiously and kicked a goal.

Apart from being a standout player, George O'Mullane worked as a club administrator and umpired matches between other teams.

In May 1866, when the code was updated at a meeting of eight club delegates chaired by H C A Harrison, O'Mullane was one of two players appointed to represent South Yarra.

George O'Mullane "loved nothing more than a rough, tough, energetic game", and it was said that only Tom Wills could match his "pluck and skill" as a footballer.

George O'Mullane died of tuberculosis at his East Melbourne residence on 20 December 1866, aged twenty-four.