Born Lithgow, N.S.W
9 October, 1886 – 20 June, 1966
A late induction to Australian football did not stop “Nipper” Truscott from creating a legend in his own lifetime in the sport. Born in New South Wales, but raised on the Western Australian Goldfields when his father moved to Kalgoorlie mines in the early 1900s, young William had his first taste of the sport at school.
Determined to master this adaption of the game of rugby that he had played earlier, Truscott was soon in the Trafalgar juniors side and by 1906, aged 20, he was playing seniors with Mines Rovers – at centre-half-back, despite his relatively small stature.
Early in the century football was strong in Perth and on the Goldfields and State teams were selected on the basis of equal representation from both leagues.
Truscott won selection in the 1908 WA team to contest the first Australian carnival, playing as a half-back, but he went on to be a centre-man, earning the nickname “Nipper” for his fleet-of-foot style.
After six years with Mines, he transferred to Perth with the Post Office, but had to stand out football for a year because he was not residentally qualified.
East Fremantle won his service in 1913 and he played until 1927, retiring at the age of 41 with more than 400 games behind him. There has been much conjecture about his actual number of senior matches because of the insufficient records, but a general consensus is that he played about 100 games for Mines Rovers, 300 with East Fremantle, 22 for WA and 12 with his clubs in interstate clashes.
He added four more Australian carnival appearances to set a record of five, representing WA for the last time in 1924 as a 38-year-old. Truscott captained East Fremantle from 1916 to 1922, was in three of their Premiership teams and did not miss State selection in that period. Truscott later coached Perth (1934-35), was a State selector, coached Christ Church Grammar School team, was a delegate to the WA National Football League and served as a secretary of the South Fremantle Football Club.
An accomplished all-round sportsman, Truscott switched to cricket in the summer, playing with North East Fremantle and representing WA as a wicketkeeper when the 1930 Australian team, which included Don Bradman, played in Perth.
He took up lawn bowls in 1939 and in 1955, at the age of 71, he partnered Harry Snook to win the Australian pairs title in Melbourne.
Truscott also captained East Fremantle Volunteer Fire Brigade, winning a State fours title and being runner-up in a State eight contest.