In May 1866, the MCC's minute book featured an unusual request: Roland Newbury, the club's pavilion keeper, wanted "use of the ground for two days ... for purpose of a match with the native black eleven".
It was the first intimation of a cricket match between the MCC and an Aboriginal team from Victoria's Western District.
The motive behind the match, scheduled for late December, was a financial one, and in August, Wills agreed to coach the Aborigines.
Wills' reasons for accepting the role remain a mystery, but a growing need for money likely influenced his decision.
This marked the beginning of his transition from amateur to professional sportsman.

Wills travelled inland in November to gather the players from Edenhope and Harrow, where they worked as station hands.
One of their employers, William Hayman, acted as the team's manager and "protector".
Mostly Jardwadjali men, they shared common vocabulary with the neighbouring Djab wurrung people, which enabled Wills to coach them in the Aboriginal language he learnt as a child.
From their training ground at Lake Wallace, Wills, in a "tactical strike", boasted to the Melbourne press of the Aborigines' powers, especially the batsmanship of Unamurriman, commonly known as Mullagh.
Unsettled by Wills' claims, the MCC responded by strengthening its ranks with non-members, in the process attracting widespread criticism.
Public sympathy was with the Aborigines when they arrived in Melbourne and over 10,000 spectators attended the MCG on Boxing Day to see them play.
Captained by Wills, they lost against the MCC's reinforced side, but won unanimous praise for their performance.
Wills afterwards accused the MCC of "treachery".

The team provoked much public discussion over past mistreatment of Aborigines and future relations between the races.
It is unknown what Wills and the Aborigines made of these broader social and political dimensions of the enterprise.
Some of Wills' contemporaries were shocked that he would associate with Aborigines in the shadow of his father's death.
Others, such as this contributor to The Empire, addressed him as a hero:
Although you may not be fully aware of the fact, allow me to tell you that you have rendered a greater service to the aboriginal races of this country and to humanity, than any man who has hitherto attempted to uphold the title of the blacks to rank amongst men.

Wills' role took on a symbolic significance: supporters and critics alike used his status as a 'native' (native-born Australian) to identify him with his 'native' (indigenous) teammates, and he was also noted for speaking in "their own lingo".
Jellico (Murrumgunarriman), the "team jester", joked to the press: "[Wills] too much along of us.
He speak nothing now but blackfellow talk."
While Melburnians were enthralled by Wills and the Aborigines, the annual intercolonial between Victoria and New South Wales—usually the season highlight—failed to excite public interest.
Cricket journalists partly attributed Victoria's loss in Sydney to Wills' absence.
The Aborigines improved as they toured Victoria under his captaincy in January.
After an easy win in Geelong, Wills took the players to "Belle Vue" to meet his mother.
Back in Melbourne, two of the Aborigines, Bullocky (Bullenchanach) and Cuzens (Yellana), joined Wills in representing Victoria against a Tasmanian XVI.

In February 1867, they went to Sydney to begin a tour of the colonies and overseas.
Aware of the tour's lucrative potential, Charles Lawrence, captain of New South Wales, invited the team to stay at his hotel on Manly Beach.
Their first match against his club at the Albert Ground in Redfern came to a dramatic halt when policemen entered the field and arrested Wills.
He and W. E. B. Gurnett, the tour promoter, had been vying to take over as manager, and Wills ended up in gaol for a breach of contract.
Within days of his release in March, Gurnett embezzled some of the funds and left the team stranded in Sydney, dashing any hopes of a trip overseas and confirming Wills' suspicion that he was a con artist.
Lawrence set up a "bene
In May 1866, the MCC's minute book featured an unusual request: Roland Newbury, the club's pavilion keeper, wanted "use of the ground for two days ... for purpose of a match with the native black eleven". It was the first intimation of a cricket match between the MCC and an Aboriginal team from Victoria's Western District. The motive behind the match, scheduled for late December, was a financial one, and in August, Wills agreed to coach the Aborigines. Wills' reasons for accepting the role remain a mystery, but a growing need for money likely influenced his decision. This marked the beginning of his transition from amateur to professional sportsman.
Wills travelled inland in November to gather the players from Edenhope and Harrow, where they worked as station hands. One of their employers, William Hayman, acted as the team's manager and "protector". Mostly Jardwadjali men, they shared common vocabulary with the neighbouring Djab wurrung people, which enabled Wills to coach them in the Aboriginal language he learnt as a child. From their training ground at Lake Wallace, Wills, in a "tactical strike", boasted to the Melbourne press of the Aborigines' powers, especially the batsmanship of Unamurriman, commonly known as Mullagh. Unsettled by Wills' claims, the MCC responded by strengthening its ranks with non-members, in the process attracting widespread criticism. Public sympathy was with the Aborigines when they arrived in Melbourne and over 10,000 spectators attended the MCG on Boxing Day to see them play. Captained by Wills, they lost against the MCC's reinforced side, but won unanimous praise for their performance. Wills afterwards accused the MCC of "treachery".
The team provoked much public discussion over past mistreatment of Aborigines and future relations between the races. It is unknown what Wills and the Aborigines made of these broader social and political dimensions of the enterprise. Some of Wills' contemporaries were shocked that he would associate with Aborigines in the shadow of his father's death. Others, such as this contributor to The Empire, addressed him as a hero:
Although you may not be fully aware of the fact, allow me to tell you that you have rendered a greater service to the aboriginal races of this country and to humanity, than any man who has hitherto attempted to uphold the title of the blacks to rank amongst men.
Wills' role took on a symbolic significance: supporters and critics alike used his status as a 'native' (native-born Australian) to identify him with his 'native' (indigenous) teammates, and he was also noted for speaking in "their own lingo". Jellico (Murrumgunarriman), the "team jester", joked to the press: "[Wills] too much along of us. He speak nothing now but blackfellow talk." While Melburnians were enthralled by Wills and the Aborigines, the annual intercolonial between Victoria and New South Wales—usually the season highlight—failed to excite public interest. Cricket journalists partly attributed Victoria's loss in Sydney to Wills' absence. The Aborigines improved as they toured Victoria under his captaincy in January. After an easy win in Geelong, Wills took the players to "Belle Vue" to meet his mother. Back in Melbourne, two of the Aborigines, Bullocky (Bullenchanach) and Cuzens (Yellana), joined Wills in representing Victoria against a Tasmanian XVI.
In February 1867, they went to Sydney to begin a tour of the colonies and overseas. Aware of the tour's lucrative potential, Charles Lawrence, captain of New South Wales, invited the team to stay at his hotel on Manly Beach. Their first match against his club at the Albert Ground in Redfern came to a dramatic halt when policemen entered the field and arrested Wills. He and W. E. B. Gurnett, the tour promoter, had been vying to take over as manager, and Wills ended up in gaol for a breach of contract. Within days of his release in March, Gurnett embezzled some of the funds and left the team stranded in Sydney, dashing any hopes of a trip overseas and confirming Wills' suspicion that he was a con artist. Lawrence set up a "bene
Tom Wills