| Tom Bush | |
| Fullname: | Tom John Bush |
| Birth Date: | 7 January 1918 |
| Death Place: | Royal Melbourne Hospital, Melbourne |
| Originalteam: | Berrigan |
| Statsend: | 1944 |
| Years1: | 1942, 1944 |
| Games Goals1: | 5 (2) |
Tom Bush (7 January 1918 – 17 November 1951)[1] was an Australian rules footballer who played with Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).[2] He played five games for Melbourne from 1942 to 1944,[3] and later played for several clubs in regional leagues. He won the best and fairest awards as coach for Peechelba and Moyhu in the late 1940s.[4]
Bush, who was originally from Berrigan[5] was cleared from St. Kilda[6] to Melbourne where he played from 1942 to 1944.
Bush played one game on permit with Coburg in 1945.[7]
Bush then played with Wangaratta in the Ovens & Murray Football League in 1945 and 1946.[8]
Milawa Football Club appointed Bush as captain-coach in 1947. They were runners up in the Ovens & King Football League grand final to Moyhu in 1947.[9]
Bush was then captain-coach of Coolamon Football Club in the South West Football League (New South Wales) in 1948[10] to fifth position on the ladder.
In his first year as captain-coach of Peechelba Football Club in 1949 in the Murray Valley Football League, Bush won the league best and fairest award.[11] Bush was captain-coach again 1950.
Bush was captain / coach of Moyhu Football Club in the Ovens & King Football League in 1951 and won their best and fairest award too.[12]
Bush died at the Royal Melbourne Hospital after an eight-week illness in November 1951. He was 33 years old.