Full name Robert Thomas Rush Years Club Name Bob Rush | Original team(s) CBC Parade 1899–1908 Collingwood Died March 13, 1975 | |
Date of birth (1880-10-09)9 October 1880 Date of death 13 March 1975(1975-03-13) (aged 94) Role Australian Rules Footballer Similar People Jock McHale, Dick Condon, Nathan Buckley, Mick Erwin, Leigh Matthews | ||
Robert Thomas 'Bob' Rush (9 October 1880 – 13 March 1975) was an Australian rules footballer who played for Collingwood in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Rush was a pacy defender and played mainly on a half back flank, although he was also used in the back pockets. He was a member of Collingwood's 1902 and 1903 premierships. From a talented footballing family, he had four brothers, Bryan, Gerald, Kevin and Leo, who also played in the VFL.
After leaving Collingwood, Rush continued to serve the club off the field in a variety of roles over the years including as a committeeman, assistant secretary and treasurer. In 1930, Rush performed match day coaching duties to lead the club to its fourth consecutive premiership, filling in for Jock McHale who was ill – although, following a decision by AFL historians in 2014, McHale is now credited as Collingwood's sole coach in the game for the purposes of coaching statistics. He is credited with having coined the Collingwood club motto of 'Floreat Pica'.
Rush was also the president of the Australian National Football Council at one stage, which was in charge of the laws of Australian football.