Eric Tassie

Eric Harry Tassie (12 October 1887 – 21 July 1936) was an Australian rules football administrator. He was president of the Australian National Football Council (ANFC) from 1929 to 1935.

Tassie was a son of Henry Tassie, who was a government minister in South Australia.^[1] He attended Way College, Adelaide, and played football for the school team and later for various lower-level clubs. An accountant by profession, Tassie became manager of the Norwood Football Club's B-grade team in 1912, and then in 1914 was elected club treasurer.^[2] He became club secretary in 1919, holding that position until 1924, and was a club delegate to the South Australian Football League (SAFL)^[a] from 1920 until his death.^[3] Tassie managed the South Australian state team at the 1924 National Carnival,^[4] and was a state selector on a number of other occasions.^[1]

After several years as a delegate from South Australia and a term as vice-president, Tassie was elected ANFC president at its general meeting in November 1929, succeeding Alf Moffat of Western Australia.^[5] He held the position until November 1935, when he resigned and nominated Bob Rush of Victoria as his successor.^[6] During his presidency, Tassie was known for his flexibility with regard to the laws of the game. He presided over the reintroduction of the flick pass for the 1934 season,^[7] and at one point suggested tackling should be banned in order to free up the flow of play.^[8] Tassie died unexpectedly in July 1936, aged 48, while undergoing an operation on his mastoid process.^[1] After his death, the Tassie Medal was struck in his honour, to be awarded to the best player at each Australian National Football Carnival.^[9]

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