Thomas Wentworth `` Tom '' Wills ( 19 August 1835 â `` 3 May 1880 ) was an Australian all-round sportsman who helped invent Australian Football , and umpired the first ever game of Australian Football , and helped write the Laws of Australian Football . Thomas Wentworth `` Tom '' Wills ( 19 August 1835 â `` 2 May 1880 ) was an Australian all-round sportsman , umpire , coach and administrator who is credited with being a catalyst towards the invention of Australian rules football .