Robran is generally considered to be the greatest ever South Australian football player.[1] His citation in the Australian Football Hall of Fame describes him as "Regarded as the best player never to play at AFL level".[2]
Robran won immense respect not only for his talent, but also his humility and sportsmanship. He played most of his time at centre half-forward, but was versatile enough to also play in the centre or on the ball as a ruck-rover. He resisted many overtures to play in Victoria, at one stage signing a form four with Carlton so that the Victorian recruiters would stop pestering him. Off the field, Robran kept a low public profile and shunned much publicity.[3]
Robran was the firstborn son of father Colin and mother Glad. He had a younger brother, Rodney. He was educated at Whyalla Technical High School and was School Prefect in his final year, 1964. A natural athlete, Robran excelled not only at football, but also played cricket, basketball and table tennis. He also participated in cross-country running and baseball.[4]
Robran joined North Adelaide so that he could play alongside his hero Don Lindner. He moved from Whyalla in 1966 to play juniors, and he began his League career in 1967.[4] In his debut season he was co-winner of North's best and fairest with Don Lindner, came third in the Magarey Medal, and played in the South Australian state team.
Robran went on to win the Magarey medal in 1968, 1970 and 1973, and won the North Adelaide best and fairest every year from 1968 to 1973. He was instrumental in North Adelaide's premiership sides in 1971 and 1972, as well as their Australian Championship win over VFL premier, Carlton in 1972. Making the move to the VFL never interested him; a quiet country boy, he never aspired to a life in Melbourne.[citation needed]
A knee injury in 1974 severely curtailed his career, although he struggled on through injury until retiring in 1980. It is a measure of his innate skill that even in his final season, playing with restriction, he polled four Magarey Medal votes in the three games he played. He played 201 games for the Roosters and made 17 State appearances. Robran was coach of North Adelaide for three years, but enjoyed little success.
After retiring from North Adelaide, Barrie played for the Walkerville Football Club in 1983 but missed the Grand Final after suffering an ankle injury during the final series.[citation needed] Barrie become a junior coach at the club, coaching both his sons through the junior grades. Barrie still attends Walkerville Football Club games from time to time.[citation needed]
After playing
Robran was among the first footballers to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996. In 2001, he was upgraded to legend status. He was the first South Australian player, and the first player never to have played in the VFL/AFL, to be named a legend.[5]
In 2000, Barrie Robran was named as a ruck rover in North Adelaide's "Team of the Century" (1901-2000).[6] He was also part of the teams selection committee alongside then Roosters Chairman Colin Walsh, Tom McKenzie, Gordon Schwartz, Jeff Pash and Don Lindner. Both Pash and Lindner were also selected in the team.
Robran is depicted taking a high mark in Jamie Cooper's painting the Game That Made Australia, commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport[7]
In 2014 he was the first SA footballer accorded the honour of having a statue at the revamped Adelaide Oval.
In 2012 he was elevated to the status of legend in the SA Sports Hall of Fame, joining Sir Donald Bradman and Bart Cummings as the only three legends in the Hall of Fame.
Personal life
Robran married Taimi Vestel at the Enfield Methodist Church in January 1970.[4] He had two sons who also played football: Matthew (born 1971) played in Adelaide's 1997 and 1998 premiership victories, while Jonathon (born 1972) represented Hawthorn and Essendon. His younger brother Rodney Robran played alongside him for much of his playing career at North Adelaide and was a well-regarded player in his own right. [8]
barrie, robran, barrie, charles, robran, born, september, 1947, whyalla, south, australia, former, australian, rules, footballer, represented, north, adelaide, south, australian, national, football, league, sanfl, from, 1967, 1980, south, australian, football,. Barrie Charles Robran MBE born 25 September 1947 in Whyalla South Australia is a former Australian rules footballer who represented North Adelaide in the South Australian National Football League SANFL from 1967 to 1980 He won South Australian football s highest individual honour the Magarey Medal on three occasions 1968 1970 and 1973 Barrie RobranStatue of Robran outside Adelaide OvalPersonal informationFull nameBarrie Charles RobranDate of birth 1947 09 25 25 September 1947 age 75 Place of birthWhyalla South AustraliaOriginal team s North WhyallaPosition s Centre Half Forward Ruck Rover CentrePlaying career1YearsClubGames Goals 1967 80North Adelaide201 196 Representative team honoursYearsTeamGames Goals South Australia17 Coaching careerYearsClubGames W L D 1978 80North Adelaide 1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1980 Career highlights3x Magarey Medal 1968 1970 1973 7x North Adelaide Best and Fairest 1967 1973 2x SANFL Premiership 1971 1972 Championship of Australia Championship 1972 South Australia State team Captain 1974 North Adelaide club Captain 1974 1977 Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee 1996 Legend Status 2001 North Adelaide Team of the Century Ruck Rover South Australian Football Hall of Fame North Adelaide Hall of Fame Icon Status South Australia State selector 1984 1998Source AustralianFootball comRobran is generally considered to be the greatest ever South Australian football player 1 His citation in the Australian Football Hall of Fame describes him as Regarded as the best player never to play at AFL level 2 Robran won immense respect not only for his talent but also his humility and sportsmanship He played most of his time at centre half forward but was versatile enough to also play in the centre or on the ball as a ruck rover He resisted many overtures to play in Victoria at one stage signing a form four with Carlton so that the Victorian recruiters would stop pestering him Off the field Robran kept a low public profile and shunned much publicity 3 Contents 1 Early life and career 2 After playing 3 Personal life 4 References 5 External linksEarly life and career EditThis section needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources in this section Unsourced material may be challenged and removed October 2021 Learn how and when to remove this template message Robran was the firstborn son of father Colin and mother Glad He had a younger brother Rodney He was educated at Whyalla Technical High School and was School Prefect in his final year 1964 A natural athlete Robran excelled not only at football but also played cricket basketball and table tennis He also participated in cross country running and baseball 4 Robran joined North Adelaide so that he could play alongside his hero Don Lindner He moved from Whyalla in 1966 to play juniors and he began his League career in 1967 4 In his debut season he was co winner of North s best and fairest with Don Lindner came third in the Magarey Medal and played in the South Australian state team Robran went on to win the Magarey medal in 1968 1970 and 1973 and won the North Adelaide best and fairest every year from 1968 to 1973 He was instrumental in North Adelaide s premiership sides in 1971 and 1972 as well as their Australian Championship win over VFL premier Carlton in 1972 Making the move to the VFL never interested him a quiet country boy he never aspired to a life in Melbourne citation needed A knee injury in 1974 severely curtailed his career although he struggled on through injury until retiring in 1980 It is a measure of his innate skill that even in his final season playing with restriction he polled four Magarey Medal votes in the three games he played He played 201 games for the Roosters and made 17 State appearances Robran was coach of North Adelaide for three years but enjoyed little success After retiring from North Adelaide Barrie played for the Walkerville Football Club in 1983 but missed the Grand Final after suffering an ankle injury during the final series citation needed Barrie become a junior coach at the club coaching both his sons through the junior grades Barrie still attends Walkerville Football Club games from time to time citation needed After playing EditRobran was among the first footballers to be inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996 In 2001 he was upgraded to legend status He was the first South Australian player and the first player never to have played in the VFL AFL to be named a legend 5 In 2000 Barrie Robran was named as a ruck rover in North Adelaide s Team of the Century 1901 2000 6 He was also part of the teams selection committee alongside then Roosters Chairman Colin Walsh Tom McKenzie Gordon Schwartz Jeff Pash and Don Lindner Both Pash and Lindner were also selected in the team In 2002 Robran was one of the 113 inaugural inductees into the South Australian Football Hall of Fame In 1981 he received the honour of Member of the Order of the British Empire for his services to football Robran is depicted taking a high mark in Jamie Cooper s painting the Game That Made Australia commissioned by the AFL in 2008 to celebrate the 150th anniversary of the sport 7 In 2014 he was the first SA footballer accorded the honour of having a statue at the revamped Adelaide Oval In 2012 he was elevated to the status of legend in the SA Sports Hall of Fame joining Sir Donald Bradman and Bart Cummings as the only three legends in the Hall of Fame Personal life EditRobran married Taimi Vestel at the Enfield Methodist Church in January 1970 4 He had two sons who also played football Matthew born 1971 played in Adelaide s 1997 and 1998 premiership victories while Jonathon born 1972 represented Hawthorn and Essendon His younger brother Rodney Robran played alongside him for much of his playing career at North Adelaide and was a well regarded player in his own right 8 Robran also had a very brief cricket career in the 1971 72 season playing one List A and two first class games for South Australia citation needed References Edit Reference at www adelaidenow com au Legends afl com au AFL Hall of Fame Archived from the original on 12 April 2018 Connolly Rohan 22 May 2001 Robran is first non VFL AFL player to win legend status The Age a b c Barrie Robran nafc com au Archived from the original on 1 January 2013 Retrieved 31 July 2012 Costa Gabrielle 23 May 2001 Legend Robran hits the trail The Age North Adelaide Team of the Century nafc com au Archived from the original on 20 July 2008 The Game That Made Australia 150years com au Australian Football League Archived from the original on 13 October 2010 Retrieved 19 September 2010 Rodney Robran australianfootball com External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Barrie Robran Barrie Robran at ESPNcricinfo North Adelaide Football Club Icon at the Wayback Machine archived 2006 09 07 Barrie Robran at AustralianFootball com Barrie Robran The Man and His Football on YouTube Australian Football Hall of Fame Legends at the Wayback Machine archived 2010 12 06 http www sportsa org au sport awards hall of fame and legends Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Barrie Robran amp oldid 1125049940, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
