Bob Pratt
| Bob Pratt | |||
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| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Harold Robert Pratt, Sr. | ||
| Date of birth | 31 August 1912 | ||
| Place of birth | Mitcham, Victoria | ||
| Date of death | 6 January 2001 (aged 88) | ||
| Original team(s) | Mitcham | ||
| Debut | 3 May 1930, South Melbourne vs. Melbourne, at Lake Oval |
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| Height / weight | 180 cm / 76 kg | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1930–39, 1946 | South Melbourne (VFL) | 158 (681) | |
| 1940–41 | Coburg Football Club (VFA) | 40 (263) | |
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1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1946.
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| Career highlights | |||
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| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Harold Robert "Bob" Pratt, senior (31 August 1912 – 6 January 2001) was an Australian rules footballer who represented South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and Coburg in the Victorian Football Association (VFA) during the 1930s and 1940s.
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, he topped the club'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.
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