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Russell Robertson

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For the rowing coach, see Rusty Robertson.

Russell Robertson
Robertson after his last game in August 2009
Personal information
Date of birth (1978-11-24) 24 November 1978 (age 45)
Place of birth Tasmania
Original team(s) Tasmania U18s
Debut Round 20, 15 August 1997, Melbourne vs. West Coast Eagles, at W.A.C.A. Ground
Height 187 cm (6 ft 2 in)
Weight 91 kg (201 lb)
Playing career1
Years Club Games (Goals)
1997–2009 Melbourne 228 (428)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2009.
Career highlights
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Russell "Robbo" Robertson (born 24 November 1978) is a former professional Australian rules footballer, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club.

Robertson is one of the Melbourne's great goalkickers, being one of just four players in the club's history to have led the goalkicking in four or more seasons. Robertson is well known for his ability to take regular spectacular marks.

Late in his career he was also known outside the football community, through reality television appearances, modelling and singing.

Early life

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Robertson grew up in the small town of Penguin, Tasmania, where he attended high school between 1991 and 1994.[1]

He played his early football in nearby Burnie, Tasmania and recruiters first spotted him in a home video featured on The Footy Show's "Almost Footy Legends" segment. He was added to the Melbourne Football Club rookie list and seen as a potential player.

AFL career

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St Kilda's Leigh Fisher manning up on Russell Robertson

Robertson made his debut in the 1997 season. He did not take long to find his feet and became known as one of the game's most exciting forwards, taking numerous "Marks of the Week" (putting him in the running for Mark of the Year, however he never won the award). Robertson is known for his sometimes miraculous snap shots at goal as much as his accurate set shot kicking and was a regular feature in the Melbourne's senior side for well over a decade.

It was not until the 2005 season that Robertson became one of the Demons star players and regularly among the leading goalkicker list. Despite being short for a full-forward, Robertson became the second option in the key position to David Neitz.

In 2005, he played for Australia in his first International Rules series against Ireland.

He was unlucky to miss All-Australian selection despite finishing third in the Coleman medal. In that year he took out the Demons' leading goalkicker award.

In the same season he achieved a personal best haul of 7 goals against Geelong in round 20.

Robertson's 2006 season was hampered by soft tissue injuries.

In 2007, he started the season strongly, kicking a handful of goals against the Saints in the Demons 31-point loss, including a miraculous snap shot whilst sitting on the ground in the goal square. In Round 2 against the Hawks on Easter Monday, Robertson landed awkwardly while trying to take one of his trademark high flying marks and injured the medial ligament in his knee, along with David Neitz who suffered the same injury, and missed up to 7 weeks of football. However he still finished the season as the club's leading goalkicker, for the third time. Returning from injury, Robertson hit back to his best, kicking 7 goals against Collingwood in the traditional Queen's Birthday game at the MCG in Round 11.

On 1 June 2008, Robertson snapped his achilles tendon in what could have been a season-ending, and a career threatening, injury. He was added to the veterans list by the club in an effort to extend his career.

Robertson returned for Melbourne playing against Geelong on 3 May, 2009 at the Melbourne Cricket Ground. Robertson performed well in his return, kicking three goals.

On 20 August 2009, Robertson announced that he would be playing his last match with the Demons in season 2009 having been advised that his contract would not be renewed. After 13 seasons and 226 games, the 30-year-old and the club agreed to part ways. Robertson also announced that he would nominate for the 2009 AFL National Draft and 2010 pre-season draft, saying that he felt he still had some good footy left in him and as keen to play on for at least one more year.[2] He played most of the 2010 season in the Goulburn Valley League, one of the top country leagues in Australia and kicked a record 106 goals for Shepparton Swans.

In 2010 he signed to be the playing-coach for St Josephs in the Geelong Football League.[3]

In 2012 and 2013, he signed to be a fly-in player for Burnie in the Tasmanian Football League. Russell played in the 2013 Grand Final against South Launceston.[4]

In 2016, Russell signed on to play at the Kangaroo Flat Football Club of the Bendigo Football Netball League.

In the second half of 2016 and the start of 2017, he is currently playing for the Toora and District Football Club.

Statistics

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[5]

Legend
  G  
 Goals
  K  
 Kicks
  D  
 Disposals 
  T  
 Tackles
  B  
 Behinds 
  H  
 Handballs 
  M  
 Marks
Season Team No. Games Totals Averages (per game)
G B K H D M T G B K H D M T
1997 Melbourne 42 3 5 3 19 13 32 10 6 1.7 1.0 6.3 4.3 10.7 3.3 2.0
1998 Melbourne 24 16 15 16 90 58 148 41 11 0.9 1.0 5.6 3.6 9.3 2.6 0.7
1999 Melbourne 24 13 11 11 65 38 103 36 3 0.8 0.8 5.0 2.9 7.9 2.8 0.2
2000 Melbourne 24 25 44 31 225 100 325 131 21 1.8 1.2 9.0 4.0 13.0 5.2 0.8
2001 Melbourne 24 22 42 26 194 69 263 101 17 1.9 1.2 8.8 3.1 12.0 4.6 0.8
2002 Melbourne 24 21 32 28 186 51 237 114 28 1.5 1.3 8.9 2.4 11.3 5.4 1.3
2003 Melbourne 24 22 41 29 220 89 309 125 23 1.9 1.3 10.0 4.0 14.0 5.7 1.0
2004 Melbourne 24 22 30 29 214 99 313 113 36 1.4 1.3 9.7 4.5 14.2 5.1 1.6
2005 Melbourne 24 23 73 30 207 58 265 134 28 3.2 1.3 9.0 2.5 11.5 5.8 1.2
2006 Melbourne 24 23 44 28 190 52 242 106 28 1.9 1.2 8.3 2.3 10.5 4.6 1.2
2007 Melbourne 24 15 42 28 139 30 169 85 10 2.8 1.9 9.3 2.0 11.3 5.7 0.7
2008 Melbourne 24 10 20 13 96 20 116 57 8 2.0 1.3 9.6 2.0 11.6 5.7 0.8
2009 Melbourne 24 13 29 21 97 22 119 59 18 2.2 1.6 7.5 1.7 9.2 4.5 1.4
Career 228 428 293 1942 699 2641 1112 237 1.9 1.3 8.5 3.1 11.6 4.9 1.0

Non-football activities

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Outside of football, Robertson is a musician, who has abilities in singing and playing guitar, modelling and has become somewhat of a television personality.

He was featured in The Footy Show "Screamers" talent quest competition.

Robertson released an album titled Higher in 2008.[6]

On 26 October 2006, Robertson married former Melbourne Storm cheerleader and aspiring actress Brooke Aust.[7]

In February 2008, he was a contestant on the Australian television show Deal or No Deal.

Robertson also made an appearance in 2008 singing on the Australian television show It Takes Two with partner Kate Ceberano in which they were runners-up.[8]

In 2012, Robertson re-joined the Melbourne Football Club to produce his own show, The Robbo Show, for the Melbourne FC website and is a regular MC at home matches at the MCG. He took over the role of Club Development Manager after the suspension and subsequent sacking of Chris Connolly for his role in the Melbourne tanking scandal.

In 2012, Robertson starred in Barassi,[9] a stage show about Ron Barassi.

In 2018, Robertson sung a drawn-out and off-key version of the Australian National Anthem at the VFL Grand Final.[10][additional citation(s) needed]

In September 2018, Robertson was a football consultant, and appeared in Season 1, episode 2, on the Australian drama Playing for Keeps.[11]

Discography

[edit]
List of albums, with selected details and chart positions
Title Details Peak chart positions
AUS
[12]
Higher 88

References

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  1. ^ Television interview from "It Takes Two"
  2. ^ Williams, Rebecca; Stevens, Mark (20 August 2009). "Demons call time on a favourite son". Herald Sun. Melbourne. Retrieved 20 August 2009.
  3. ^ Wade, Nick (26 October 2010). "Russell Robertson signs at Geelong Football League club St Joseph's". Geelongadvertiser.com.au. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  4. ^ TERRY MORRIS (21 September 2013). "Robertson ends career where it started". The Examiner. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  5. ^ "Russell Robertson - Stats - Statistics". AFL Tables. 24 November 1978. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  6. ^ Rielly, Stephen (2 May 2009). "Russell Robertson returns on a high note". The Australian. Retrieved 3 March 2012.
  7. ^ Byrne, Fiona (13 July 2008). "Footballer's wife Brooke Aust: I'm me, not a WAG". Sunday Herald Sun.
  8. ^ NIGEL TAPP (13 February 2008). "Robertson on song - Former Penguin football star impresses with his singing ability". The Advocate. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  9. ^ "BARASSI The Stage Show". Barassi.net.au. Retrieved 22 October 2016.
  10. ^ "VFL Grand Final 2018".
  11. ^ "PLAYING FOR KEEPS SERIES 1 CREDITS - EPISODE 102" (PDF). tenplay. Retrieved 6 October 2018.
  12. ^ Ryan, Gavin (2011). Australia's Music Charts 1988–2010 (PDF ed.). Mt Martha, Victoria, Australia: Moonlight Publishing. p. 237.
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