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Bob Pratt
Harold Robert "Bob" Pratt (31 August 1912 – 6 January 2001) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).
Considered "arguably the best full-forward in the history of Australian rules", Pratt was one of the inaugural Legends inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Known for spectacular diving and high-flying marks, Pratt topped South Melbourne's goalkicking for the first time in 1932 with 71 goals and for the next three seasons passed 100 goals. His total of 150 goals in 1934 was a VFL/AFL record which stood alone until Peter Hudson equalled it in 1971. Pratt also kicked ten or more goals in a game eight times, including 15 goals in a single game. His son, Bob Pratt Jr., also played for South Melbourne.
The son of Harold Robert Pratt and Olive Pratt (née Fosbrook), Pratt was born in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Brunswick West on 31 August 1912. He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Mitcham, and was known as "Bob" to avoid confusion with his father.
Playing as a junior for local club Mitcham, Pratt attracted the attention of rival VFL clubs South Melbourne and Hawthorn. Whilst Hawthorn lost interest after a poor performance by Pratt in a match, South Melbourne signed him following a recommendation from the Mitcham coach.
Recruited from Mitcham, Pratt played his first game for the South Melbourne seconds against Hawthorn on 15 June 1929. He was one of the best on the ground in a team that won 15.16 (106) to 4.9 (33), scoring four goals.
Pratt played in the forward pocket for the seconds in the 1929 first semi-final against Essendon, and was one of the best players for South Melbourne. He was replaced in the team for the preliminary final match against Geelong by Jack Richardson, most likely because Richardson had played 10 senior matches that year, rather than due to any disappointment in Pratt's performance (it was the prevailing wisdom that it was always better to play experienced senior players in seconds finals matches); Geelong won the match.
Pratt's senior VFL career began in the first round of the 1930 season, when—aged 17 years, 245 days—he played at centre half-forward for South Melbourne against Melbourne at South Melbourne's home ground, Lake Oval. Although South lost the match by 25 points, Pratt kicked four goals, and was considered to be his side's best player on the day.
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Bob Pratt
Harold Robert "Bob" Pratt (31 August 1912 – 6 January 2001) was an Australian rules footballer who played for the South Melbourne Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and the Coburg Football Club in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).
Considered "arguably the best full-forward in the history of Australian rules", Pratt was one of the inaugural Legends inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.
Known for spectacular diving and high-flying marks, Pratt topped South Melbourne's goalkicking for the first time in 1932 with 71 goals and for the next three seasons passed 100 goals. His total of 150 goals in 1934 was a VFL/AFL record which stood alone until Peter Hudson equalled it in 1971. Pratt also kicked ten or more goals in a game eight times, including 15 goals in a single game. His son, Bob Pratt Jr., also played for South Melbourne.
The son of Harold Robert Pratt and Olive Pratt (née Fosbrook), Pratt was born in the inner-Melbourne suburb of Brunswick West on 31 August 1912. He grew up in the Melbourne suburb of Mitcham, and was known as "Bob" to avoid confusion with his father.
Playing as a junior for local club Mitcham, Pratt attracted the attention of rival VFL clubs South Melbourne and Hawthorn. Whilst Hawthorn lost interest after a poor performance by Pratt in a match, South Melbourne signed him following a recommendation from the Mitcham coach.
Recruited from Mitcham, Pratt played his first game for the South Melbourne seconds against Hawthorn on 15 June 1929. He was one of the best on the ground in a team that won 15.16 (106) to 4.9 (33), scoring four goals.
Pratt played in the forward pocket for the seconds in the 1929 first semi-final against Essendon, and was one of the best players for South Melbourne. He was replaced in the team for the preliminary final match against Geelong by Jack Richardson, most likely because Richardson had played 10 senior matches that year, rather than due to any disappointment in Pratt's performance (it was the prevailing wisdom that it was always better to play experienced senior players in seconds finals matches); Geelong won the match.
Pratt's senior VFL career began in the first round of the 1930 season, when—aged 17 years, 245 days—he played at centre half-forward for South Melbourne against Melbourne at South Melbourne's home ground, Lake Oval. Although South lost the match by 25 points, Pratt kicked four goals, and was considered to be his side's best player on the day.