Quote Originally Posted by bloodspirit View Post
This is a good topic and does deserve its own thread. Thanks for mentioning Laurie Nash. I didn't really know much about him and so googled and found this on Wikipedia (footnotes omitted):

Nash was a superbly fit athlete who never smoked, drank rarely, and dedicated himself to a punishing exercise regime; something rare in 1930s sports circles.
Legendary Richmond Football Club player and coach Jack Dyer asserted that Nash was "Inch for inch, pound for pound, the greatest player in the history of Australian Rules",[197] adding "He was the only man I knew who could bite off more than he could chew and chew it."
In the view of champion Collingwood full-forward Gordon Coventry, whose record of 1299 VFL career goals between 1920 and 1937 would not be surpassed for 62 years, if Nash had played at full-forward for his entire career, he would have kicked more goals than anyone, Coventry included. In 1936 Coventry stated that Nash was the best player he had seen; "No player is more versatile, for he can play anywhere. He is fast, has great control of the ball, kicks with either foot and has that little bit of "devil" so essential in the makeup of a champion of to-day."
Fellow footballer Vic Richardson wrote in 1968 that Nash "was faster than any player I have seen in getting the ball moving to players running on. Add his high marking ability and speed to his quick thinking and you had a player who practically originated today's style of play and one who would be unbeatable at it."
In retirement, Nash was asked why he never won a Brownlow Medal (the award for the Best and Fairest player in the VFL). He replied, "I was never the best and fairest but I reckon I might have been the worst and dirtiest. I played it hard and tough."

Sounds like he was the player with a bit of mongrel and was also awesomely good. Perhaps not better known because he didn't play all that long and didn't win Brownlows and B&Fs.
Nash knew he was good. Once asked who the greatest player he'd ever seen was, he replied "I see him every morning in the mirror when I shave". He was probably right. In 1934 playing for Victoria at CHF he'd kicked a couple of goals, but was moved to full forward after quarter time where he proceeded to kick another 16. 18 for the match is still a Record for a Victorian I think. And IIRC, I think he's the only player to have played Test cricket for Australia without playing Shield cricket. He represented Tassie, but I don't think they played shield cricket at the time, and he never got a game for Victoria.

There is a wonderful biography called "The Great Laurie Nash" by Ned Wallish - a tremendous read about Nash if Yu can get your hands on it.