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Australian rules footballer, born 1912

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 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 , and was one of the best players for South Melbourne. He was replaced in the team for the preliminary final match against 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. He played the entire season of 18 home and away matches, kicking 43 goals for the season—his best score was five goals in round 10 against Fitzroy—and was second on South Melbourne's goalkicking list to full forward Austin Robertson. Pratt was thus considered to have "immense promise". Leading VFL footballer turned journalist Wallace Sharland complimented Pratt on his pace, stating that he had plenty of "toe". Selleck was not a success (in fact, he only played three senior VFL games), and he was moved to the forward flank for the second match, while Pratt was moved to full forward for the first time. In his first game as full forward, Pratt kicked seven goals and one behind. Pratt topped South Melbourne's goalkicking for the first time in 1932 with 71 goals, 50 of them coming by round nine. His tally broke the previous record for goals scored in a season by a South Melbourne player, held by Ted Johnson, who kicked 60 goals in each of the 1924, 1925 and 1928 seasons. On 2 July 1932, in the round nine match against Fitzroy, playing at full forward, Pratt kicked seven goals in a more accurate South Melbourne's 12.10 (82) win over Fitzroy 10.15 (75). The Argus noted that "Pratt was keen and accurate [up] forward", whilst The Age remarked on Pratt's "extraordinary marking and kicking". After the match, Pratt was reported by goal umpire Greenwood and boundary umpire Treloar for striking Fitzroy's back pocket Frank Curcio in the back, near the right kidney, in the third quarter. At the VFL tribunal hearing on Thursday, 7 July 1932, the charge against Pratt was not sustained, as Curcio said that he had no recollection of having been struck. This was the only occasion that Pratt was reported in his entire VFL career.

South Melbourne underwent a massive recruiting drive prior to the 1933 VFL season, recruiting Laurie Nash and Frank Davies from Tasmania, Wilbur Harris and Ossie Bertram from South Australia and Western Australians Joe O'Meara and John Bowe. After a slow start, the team melded well together to win the 1933 premiership. Pratt, who kicked 109 goals for the season from eighteen matches, was "idolised by all South fans (who) flocked to the Lake Oval and other grounds to see him in action." Pratt kicked three goals in the grand final to overtake Gordon Coventry as the VFL's leading goalkicker for the season (however, the medal was presented based on regular season tallies only).

Pratt's son Bob junior was born on 24 March 1936, and Pratt suddenly found himself unemployed when the newspaper he worked for, The Star, unexpectedly folded. Annoyed at what he considered unfair treatment by club management towards him compared to interstate recruits, Pratt first sought to leave South Melbourne for another club in June 1936, stating that he was unemployed and believed another club could find him employment. Pratt relented when local politician Robert Williams MLC found him a job in a brewery. The Age described that "of [that 39] Bob Pratt is the only one who has played in every engagement, and on occasions he has had to nurse injuries certain to have kept most other players out of the game". In the first round match against Melbourne, Pratt was well held by his opponent, Harry Long, who was the best Melbourne player on the day. Pratt kicked five goals and five behinds for the match; his first goal for the day came from an "amazing mark" which he took "almost on the goal line". That first goal of the 1936 season brought his VFL career total to 500 goals (in 106 matches).

Injuries—including a split nerve that had gone undiagnosed—restricted Pratt to just six games for twelve goals in 1937, leading him to consider retirement on a number of occasions. Carlton attempted to recruit Pratt, offering to pay him to stand out of football while waiting for a transfer from South Melbourne. South Melbourne, however, refused to transfer him.

Pratt abandoned plans to join Carlton but continual injury problems delayed the start of his year. In April, Pratt announced he was considering a transfer to Victorian Football Association (VFA) club Preston, who were offering him £6. He advised South Melbourne that, if they would continue to pay him the usual rate of £3 a week and take the risk of his breaking down, he would not consider any other offer. If, on the other hand, South Melbourne was reluctant, he announced that he would transfer to Preston and take the risk of his leg keeping him out of the game. Mullaly explained that Pratt had sustained an ankle injury three years earlier during the exhibition match South Melbourne had played against Collingwood, in Sydney, on 3 August 1935, and that his injury in that match was so severe that he was unable to return to the field after the half time break. Although he received immediate treatment, he was unable to play in South Melbourne's next match, against Carlton on 10 August 1935; but he was fit enough to play against North Melbourne on 17 August 1935, two weeks later (he kicked five goals in the match). He continued to play for the rest of the season. Then, just two days before the 1935 grand final, Pratt was hit by a truck, badly injuring the same ankle. Pratt received immediate medical attention, including intensive massage treatment, and was later taken, by South Melbourne, to a leading surgeon. As a consequence of the treatment he received, Pratt was able to play in all of the 21 games that South Melbourne played in 1936, scoring 64 goals for the season. Then, in 1937, after the match against North Melbourne on 14 June 1937, Pratt complained of pain in his badly jarred ankle; his ankle was x rayed, and South Melbourne took him to "the best bone specialist in Melbourne", who diagnosed "arthritis". They sought a second opinion; and Pratt also continued to receive extensive massage treatment as well. Pratt did not play again in 1937. According to Mullaly, Pratt had begun training some two months before the 1938 season had started, and had played well in some of the club's practice games; only to have complained, once again, of ankle problems. He was appointed vice captain to Herbie Matthews two weeks before the season began. Although not playing, he was retained on South Melbourne's training list and, as a consequence, was receiving £1 a week – and only seemed to become anxious about the condition of his ankle as the closing date for clearances had approached, and had asked for the club to arrange another x ray. Mullaly thought that it was "absurd" for Pratt to contemplate gaining a clearance to another club if, in fact, he was not fit to play for South Melbourne. The two medical men consulted by South Melbourne reported, on Friday 24 June, that Pratt had arthritis and that he must retire. Pratt went on to play seven matches in 1938 (his first, against Collingwood, was in round 11, on 2 July 1938), kicking 32 goals, including nine goals against Geelong in the final round. South finished last on the ladder that season with two wins and sixteen losses.

In 1939, Pratt played 16 games with South Melbourne, scoring 72 goals for the season. Towards the end of the season, there were many rumours that he would retire from football and, when asked, he said that he would play the last match of the season, and implied that he would be returning to South Melbourne in 1940.

In 1940, Pratt sought a clearance to fellow VFL side Carlton. When told that he would have to stand out of VFL football for three years to do so, he signed with Coburg Football Club in the VFA, although fellow VFA side Port Melbourne, much of whose territory was shared with South Melbourne, had offered Pratt substantially more. Also transferring to the VFA for the 1940 season was Collingwood full forward Ron Todd, who moved to Williamstown. With former South Melbourne teammate Laurie Nash at VFA club Camberwell (and still considered amongst the best footballers in the country), and the interest generated by the VFA having legalised throwing the ball in 1938, there was talk that the VFA, traditionally the lesser of the two leagues, would now match the VFL for crowds. During his time in the VFA, Pratt continued his incredible goal scoring record, kicking 183 goals during 1941 (a mark bettered only once in VFA/VFL history, by Ron Todd in 1945), including 22 goals in a game against Sandringham. In all, Pratt played 40 games for Coburg, kicking 263 goals.

On 26 February 1942, Pratt enlisted in the Royal Australian Air Force (RAAF), serving as a corporal in the 7th Medical Receiving Station, defending airfields in the Pacific and in Borneo. While in service, Pratt had the opportunity to play football, representing the Stores team in the RAAF competition. Playing at full forward, Pratt helped Stores to the 1942 RAAF premiership, kicking three goals in the grand final against the "Rookies". Pratt was discharged on 14 November 1945. Pratt then caused a sensation when he attempted a comeback with South Melbourne in 1946 aged 33; he was reported to be marking and kicking at full forward "in something like his old style" during the pre season practice matches. Freely granted a clearance from the VFA back to South Melbourne, and looking exceedingly well and seeming keen to play at his best, Pratt kicked two early goals in his return match against Carlton in the first round of the 1946 season. The match turned out to be a comparatively entertaining display of football, but also rather tame and blood less compared with the teams' last meeting in the 1945 "Bloodbath" grand final. During the match, Pratt received a career ending leg injury. Interviewed at the time, Pratt said, "I'm playing only for the money", but when his wife Olive interrupted and said that he would still play for nothing, Pratt replied, "Well, she might be right, too."

Pratt married Olive Sundstrom on 24 August 1935 at All Saints Church of England in St Kilda, after playing against Geelong earlier that day. His teammate James Reid was best man. Over a thousand people attended the wedding, with a further 400 people outside, jostling to see the couple. Two constables were required to keep the crowd away from the church doors and pickpockets took advantage of the crush of people to steal from the crowd. Pratt had a son, Bob junior, who also played for South Melbourne, but following a string of injuries, retired due to increased business pressures. Pratt worked at various times for the Melbourne Star newspaper, as an inspector of news agencies and as a sales representative for soft drink companies, as well as writing a football column for The Argus newspaper. He also raced greyhounds and played competitive lawn bowls.

Sydney named its Leading Goalkicker Award the "Bob Pratt Trophy" for a period in the early 1990s. In 1996, Pratt was named as an inaugural member of the Australian Football Hall of Fame and, along with 11 other greats of the game, was immediately elevated to "Legend" status, the highest honour in Australian football. In 2000, Pratt was named at full forward in Coburg's Team of the Century". In 2009, Along with Bob Skilton and Paul Kelly, Pratt was inaugurated into the Swans Hall of Fame as a "Bloods Legend".