Alistair Nicholson
Encyclopedia
Alistair "Big Jack" Nicholson (born 4 March 1978) is a former Australian rules football
er, who played with the Melbourne Football Club
in the Australian Football League
(AFL).
Nicholson was schooled at Scotch College, Perth
, where he was school captain
in his final year of 1995. He was also co-captain of the school's hockey team. Fellow AFL footballer Rowan Jones
followed Nicholson as school captain in 1996.
Making his debut in 1997 in the number 8 guernsey, the large figure of the man known as "Big Jack" was been a strong presence in defence for the Demons. Nicholson, a specialist key position defender, was most suited to fullback and was much maligned during his career, described by critics as "old, slow and useless" and "unfashionable". However, Nicholson was shown a lot of faith by coach Neale Daniher
, and was signed on until the end of the 2007 season.
The next year, however, saw a sharp decline in Nicholson's career. Due to the emergence of much-improved fullback Nathan Carroll, Nicholson was relegated to the Sandringham Zebras
, Melbourne's VFL
affiliate, for the entirety of the 2006 season. At the end of the year, he was delisted and his contract was paid out (which still had a year to run), effectively ending his AFL career.
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who played with the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
in the Australian Football League
Australian Football League
The Australian Football League is both the governing body and the major professional competition in the sport of Australian rules football...
(AFL).
Nicholson was schooled at Scotch College, Perth
Scotch College, Perth
Scotch College , is one of Australia's leading independent schools for boys, situated in Swanbourne, Western Australia, Australia. The school is a member of the Public Schools Association and is now a Uniting Church school, although it was founded in 1897 by the Presbyterian Church of Australia...
, where he was school captain
School Captain
School Captain is a student appointed or elected to represent the school.This student, usually in the senior year, in their final year of attending that school...
in his final year of 1995. He was also co-captain of the school's hockey team. Fellow AFL footballer Rowan Jones
Rowan Jones
Rowan Jones is a retired Australian rules footballer who played for the West Coast Eagles in the Australian Football League....
followed Nicholson as school captain in 1996.
Making his debut in 1997 in the number 8 guernsey, the large figure of the man known as "Big Jack" was been a strong presence in defence for the Demons. Nicholson, a specialist key position defender, was most suited to fullback and was much maligned during his career, described by critics as "old, slow and useless" and "unfashionable". However, Nicholson was shown a lot of faith by coach Neale Daniher
Neale Daniher
Neale Francis Daniher is a former Australian rules footballer who played with the Essendon Football Club in the Australian Football League . Neale was also an Assistant Coach to the Essendon and Fremantle Football Clubs and the Coach of the Victorian State Team and the Melbourne Football Club...
, and was signed on until the end of the 2007 season.
The next year, however, saw a sharp decline in Nicholson's career. Due to the emergence of much-improved fullback Nathan Carroll, Nicholson was relegated to the Sandringham Zebras
Sandringham Zebras
The Sandringham Football Club, nicknamed The Zebras, is an Australian rules football club based in Melbourne that was formed in 1929 and plays in the Victorian Football League . The Zebras have a 5 year alignment agreement with AFL club St Kilda Football Club of which the first season was 2009...
, Melbourne's VFL
Victorian Football League
The Victorian Football League which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association , taking its new name as from the 1996 season, is the premier Australian rules football league in Victoria The Victorian Football League (VFL) which evolved from the former Victorian Football Association...
affiliate, for the entirety of the 2006 season. At the end of the year, he was delisted and his contract was paid out (which still had a year to run), effectively ending his AFL career.