Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler (21 May 1912 – 17 June 1941) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Hawthorn in the Victorian Football League (VFL). He played only one VFL game, against Melbourne.

Family

The son of Herbert John Wheeler (1877–1947), and Eliza Lousia Wheeler (1878–1975), née James, Geoffrey Maxwell Wheeler was born at Coleraine, Victoria on 21 May 1912. He married Margaret Isabel Lingham (1914-1998) in 1937. They had three children: Maxine, Alan, and Mabel.

Football

Wheeler topped the Ballarat - Wimmera FL goalkicking with 107 goals in 1936. Hawthorn managed to secure a permit from Ballarat for Wheeler to play on a Monday. He played on a split round weekend in which the Hawks and Melbourne played at Glenferrie oval. The following week he was dropped and lined up in the reserves. A few weeks later while playing in the seconds Wheeler had his arm broken and that finished his season. Wheeler returned from Hawthorn and played with North Ballarat FC and he topped the Ballarat Football League goalkicking in 1938 with 93 goals and in 1939, 93 goals. In 1938, Wheeler kicked 17 goals in a match against the Ballarat CYMS FC.

Military service

He enlisted in the Second AIF on 24 July 1940, and served in the 2/2 Pioneer Battalion.

Death

He was killed in action, at Merdjayoun, in French Lebanon, on 17 June 1941, serving with the Second AIF.

Footnotes

Sources