PROUT, Harry

Harry Prout was a fine half-forward who came from VAFA club, Collegians.

He made history by going straight from Collegians into Essendon's losing 1908 Grand Final team. It was the first time a League player had debuted in a grand final and has only happened five times since (to 2023). Essendon's George Rawle repeated the feat in 1923.

Though short, he was exceedingly fast and a fine kick.

He fractured his collarbone early in 1909 but returned six weeks later in Round 11 and kicked a career-high five goals the following week against Geelong. He finished behind Paddy Shea as Essendon's leading goalkicker that season.

A railway navvie, Prout and five of his work-mates were charged with murder in 1911. The intoxicated group were looking for a man they had been arguing with, but one of them struck another man by mistake and he later died of a fractured skull. The attacker, Frederick Carmody, was convicted of manslaughter but Prout and the others were acquitted.

Probably keen to put this behind him, Prout moved to Sydney where he played with the YMCA in 1912.

Prout's brother, James, played cricket for Queensland.

He died on 13th January, 1956.