Robert Nash (Australian rules footballer)
Encyclopedia
Robert Henry "Bob" Nash (22 April 1884 - 1958) was a former leading Australian rules football
er who captained Collingwood Football Club
in the Victorian Football League
(VFL) and captain coached Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football Association
(VFA). Nash is best known as the father of Test cricket
er and leading footballer Laurie Nash
.
Born in Melbourne, the son of Mick Nash, who played for Carlton
when it was part of the VFA, Nash played for VFA club Northcote
until his recruitment by Collingwood in 1904
. Nash became a leading player at Collingwood, playing 88 games and kicking 14 goals in six seasons Regarded as a powerful player who was a good mark and kick, he captained Collingwood in 1908
and 1909
and represented Victoria at the first interstate carnival
in Melbourne in 1908.
After leaving Collingwood at the end of the 1910 VFL season
, Nash spent two years as captain-coach of VFA side Footscray before retiring at the end of 1912.
Initially employed as a gas stoker, Nash became a policeman, and went on strike in 1923 for better pay. He was dismissed from the force as a result and instead moved his family to Tasmania
to run the hotel at Parattah
. There he oversaw the sporting development of Laurie and his other son, Robert Jnr (who was also an accomplished footballer) and initially encouraged Laurie to concentrate on cricket rather than football, and then refused to allow Laurie to play senior football until age 19.
Nash collapsed and died at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
while watching Collingwood.
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 captained Collingwood Football Club
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the Victorian 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...
(VFL) and captain coached Footscray Football Club in the Victorian Football Association
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...
(VFA). Nash is best known as the father of Test cricket
Test cricket
Test cricket is the longest form of the sport of cricket. Test matches are played between national representative teams with "Test status", as determined by the International Cricket Council , with four innings played between two teams of 11 players over a period of up to a maximum five days...
er and leading footballer Laurie Nash
Laurie Nash
Laurence John "Laurie" Nash was a Test cricketer and Australian rules footballer. An inductee into the Australian Football Hall of Fame, Nash was a member of South Melbourne's 1933 premiership team, captained South Melbourne in 1937 and was the team's leading goal kicker in 1937 and 1945...
.
Born in Melbourne, the son of Mick Nash, who played for Carlton
Carlton Football Club
The Carlton Football Club is a professional Australian rules football club based in Melbourne, Victoria. The club competes in the Australian Football League, and was one of the eight founding members of that competition in 1897...
when it was part of the VFA, Nash played for VFA club Northcote
Northcote Football Club
Northcote Football Club, nicknamed The Dragons, was an Australian rules football club which played in the VFA from 1908 until 1987. The club's colours were green and yellow and it was based in the Melbourne suburb of Northcote...
until his recruitment by Collingwood in 1904
1904 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1904.-Premiership season:In 1904, the VFL competition consisted of eight teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume...
. Nash became a leading player at Collingwood, playing 88 games and kicking 14 goals in six seasons Regarded as a powerful player who was a good mark and kick, he captained Collingwood in 1908
1908 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1908.Both Richmond Football Club and University Football Club were admitted to the VFL competition .-Premiership season:...
and 1909
1909 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1909.-Premiership season:In 1909, the VFL competition consisted of ten teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their...
and represented Victoria at the first interstate carnival
1908 Melbourne Carnival
The 1908 Melbourne Carnival was the inaugural Australian National Football Carnival, an Australian rules football interstate competition. It was known at the time as the Jubilee Australasian Football Carnival as it commemorated 50 years of Australian rules football.-Teams:The Victorian team was...
in Melbourne in 1908.
After leaving Collingwood at the end of the 1910 VFL season
1910 VFL season
Results and statistics for the Victorian Football League season of 1910.-Premiership season:In 1910, the VFL competition comprised ten teams of 18 on-the-field players each, with no "reserves", although any of the 18 players who had left the playing field for any reason could later resume their...
, Nash spent two years as captain-coach of VFA side Footscray before retiring at the end of 1912.
Initially employed as a gas stoker, Nash became a policeman, and went on strike in 1923 for better pay. He was dismissed from the force as a result and instead moved his family to Tasmania
Tasmania
Tasmania is an Australian island and state. It is south of the continent, separated by Bass Strait. The state includes the island of Tasmania—the 26th largest island in the world—and the surrounding islands. The state has a population of 507,626 , of whom almost half reside in the greater Hobart...
to run the hotel at Parattah
Parattah, Tasmania
Parattah is a small township in Tasmania, located about 6 kilometres southeast of the town of Oatlands. At the 2006 census, Parattah had a population of 105....
. There he oversaw the sporting development of Laurie and his other son, Robert Jnr (who was also an accomplished footballer) and initially encouraged Laurie to concentrate on cricket rather than football, and then refused to allow Laurie to play senior football until age 19.
Nash collapsed and died at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
while watching Collingwood.