NEISH, Bruce

Bruce Neish was a defender and ruck rover, who joined the Under 19s from Doutta Stars in 1966.

Neish started promisingly with the Seniors in 1970 when he kicked four goals on debut against Melbourne in Round 6 and played every game for the remainder of the season (except for a three week suspension between Rounds 15-17), winning the Best First Year player award in 1970. He played a further seven games in 1971 before leaving the Club.

He joined Footscray where he played one game in 1972 before joining Sunshine in late 1972 and remaining there in 1974. He then was a “fly-in player” to Tasmania playing for East Devonport in 1974 followed by North Launceston in 1975 which included four State representative games for Tasmania.

In 1977, he joined North Sydney and he finished his career captaining Lancefield in the Riddell District League in 1978 and 1979.

Neish later became chairman of the Riddell League Tribunal, then a member of the EDFL Tribunal and served three years as a committee member of the EFCPP&O Association. He returned to Essendon as security officer in 2005 and also acted as Bendigo Bombers match day assistant from 2006 to 2008. He became Procurement and Facilities Manager in 2007 and remained in that role for a number of years.