peaked in 1945 when he was appointed coach of South Melbourne and steered them to the 1945 VFL Grand Final. South Melbourne lost the game and despite remaining with them for another three years he was unable to qualify the club for another finals series. He coaching at South Melbourne was terminated halfway through the 1948 season after he openly criticized the team in a radio interview. Adams had said " The players lack fierceness and some of the players were being like bottled fed babies". He was replaced by Jack Hale. From various reports during his years at Preston, Adams was just as colourful character off the football field as on, having played senior cricket in Perth and won state swimming championships. Off the field, he was no mean pianist, entertaining at many club socials, and was described as a "dab hand" at chess. He also had a fondness for poetry, and more than once quoted lines from the classics in his addresses to players. According to the Northcote Leader in 1927 when he was coaching the local club, Adam's favourite lines were from the English poet, Sir Henry Newbolt's Vitaï Lampada: "and the captain's hand on his shoulder smote, play up, play up and play the game." References External links DemonWiki profile William John (Bull) Adams, at WAFL FootyFacts. Bill "Bull" Adams, at The VFA Project. 1900 births 1973 deaths Australian rules footballers from Western Australia Australian Rules footballers: place kick exponents South Fremantle Football Club players Fitzroy Football Club players Melbourne Football Club players Sydney Swans coaches Northcote Football Club players Preston Football Club (VFA) players Preston Football Club (VFA) coaches Prahran Football Club players Prahran Football Club coaches North Launceston Football Club players North Launceston Football Club coaches