Billy Gent

{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2021}}

{{Use Australian English|date=July 2011}}

{{Infobox AFL biography

| name = Billy Gent

| image =

| fullname = William Robert Gent

| birth_date = {{birth date|1879|6|19|df=yes}}

| birth_place = Richmond, Victoria

| death_date = {{death date and age|1957|7|7|1879|6|19|df=yes}}

| death_place = Port Melbourne, Victoria

| originalteam = Essendon Association

| height = 164 cm

| weight = 62 kg

| position = Rover

| statsend = 1908

| years1 = 1903–04, 1906–08

| club1 = South Melbourne

| games_goals1 = 62 (31)

| careerhighlights =

}}

William Gent (19 June 1879 – 7 July 1957{{cite web|url=http://australianfootball.com/players/player/billy%2Bgent/1816|title=Billy Gent - Player Bio|publisher=Australian Football|accessdate=14 March 2015}}) was an Australian rules footballer who played for South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

A rover from Essendon Association, Gent was noted for his bad behaviour on the field. In 1904 he received a 20-game suspension for striking numerous Fitzroy players, while in 1907 he was suspended for life by the league for striking {{AFL Car}}'s Dick L. Harris.{{cite news|newspaper=The Herald|title=Football fights - Charges against players|date=24 August 1907|page=5|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author=}} His expulsion was lifted on appeal after seven games when it was ruled to be illegal – he had been reported by the Carlton club secretary, rather than by the game's umpire, which was traditionally allowed under VFL rules but turned out no longer to be allowed under the Australasian Football Council rules which had come into effect in 1907.{{cite news|newspaper=The Age|title=Football disqualifications – cases of Ghent (sic) and Franks|date=16 May 1908|page=15|publication-place=Melbourne, VIC|author=}} Gent played four more games after return before retiring.