Eric Nicholls

Eric Nicholls (born 15 October 1939) is a former Australian rules footballer who played with Geelong in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Eric Nicholls
Personal information
Full name Eric Nicholls
Date of birth (1939-10-15) 15 October 1939
Original team(s) East Geelong
Height 180 cm (5 ft 11 in)
Weight 78 kg (172 lb)
Position(s) Defender
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1956–1963 Geelong 58 (0)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1963.
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Career

Nicholls, who captained the Victorian schoolboys in interstate football, came to the VFL from East Geelong in 1956.[1][2] He was a defender, used mostly as a half-back flanker and occasionally at full-back.[3] His debut in the round 10 loss to Footscray at Western Oval, at the age of 16 and 245 days, made him the youngest player to debut for Geelong since Leo Tasker in 1917.[4][5] It would be his only senior appearance in 1956 and he didn't get an extended run in the team until 1961, when he played in all 18 games.[6] In 1962 he suffered a broken collarbone and later a thigh injury, which restricted his appearances, but he did feature in Geelong's drawn preliminary final against Carlton, before missing the replay.[6][7][8] He played six league games in 1963, the last in round 14, then ended the year with a premiership in the reserves.[6][9] It was his final season at Geelong before he left to captain-coach Geelong West in the Victorian Football Association (VFA).[6]

In 1964, his first season as coach, Nicholls won a best and fairest and led Geelong West to the VFA 2nd Division premiership, with an upset 21 point win over Sunshine in the grand final.[10][11] This came despite a poor start to the season, with losses in the opening four rounds and was the club's first VFA premiership, in what was only its second season in the competition.[12] Promoted to the 1st Division for the 1965 VFA season, Nicholls was unable prevent Geelong West from finishing last.[12] On an individual level he had a strong year, with an equal fifth placing in the J. J. Liston Trophy.[11] Nicholls remained captain-coach in 1966 and in what would be his final season steered Geelong West to another 2nd Division grand final, which they lost to Oakleigh by 13 points.[11][13]

Family

His son, Leigh Nicholls, played Under 19s for Geelong and was a Victorian Teal Cup representative.[14]

References
  1. "Geelong loses crack wingman". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 15 June 1956. p. 16. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  2. "Here Are Your V.F.L. Final Lists For 1956". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 9 April 1956. p. 19. Retrieved 14 December 2014.
  3. Holmesby, Russell; Main, Jim (2007). The Encyclopedia Of AFL Footballers. BAS Publishing. ISBN 9781920910785.
  4. "AFL Tables – Footscray v Geelong – Sat, 16-Jun-1956 2:15 PM – Match Stats". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  5. "AFL Tables – All Time Player List – Geelong". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  6. "AFL Tables – Eric Nicholls – Games Played". AFL Tables. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  7. Carter, Ron (2 May 1962). "Arthur, Winneke in Doubt for Hawks". The Age. p. 22. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  8. "Knee Strapped". The Age. 22 August 1962. p. 20. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  9. "Reserves". geelongcats.com.au. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  10. "Upset Win by Geelong West". The Age. 14 September 1964. p. 20. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  11. "Geelong West Football Club Greats". roosters.org.au. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  12. Fiddian, Marc (2013). The VFA – A History of the Victorian Football Association 1877 – 1995. Melbourne Sports Books. p. 189.
  13. "Geelong West Football Club: History & Honours Board". roosters.org.au. Archived from the original on 31 October 2014. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
  14. Perkin, Steve (17 September 1989). "The Coodabeens of '81". The Age. p. 19. Retrieved 13 December 2014.
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