William Scanlan (6 January 1925 – 10 September 2000) was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne and Footscray in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

[1] The son of Francis Scanlan (1885–1961) and Minnie Scanlan, nee Coghlan (1892–1976), William Scanlan was born in Sandringham, Victoria on 6 January 1925.

He was the older brother of fellow Melbourne and Footscray VFL player Frank Scanlan.

Scanlan served in the Royal Australian Air Force during World War II.

[2]