Almanac (Footy) Profile: Matthew Robran – AKA ‘Son Of’

 

 

 

 

 

Matthew Robran
Norwood FC: 54 games, 59 Goals
Hawthorn 1991: 7 games, 5 goals
Adelaide 1993-2001: 130 games, 137 Goals
2 time AFL Premiership Player 1997 & 1998
Adelaide Team of the Decade

 

Matty Robran, while being a two-time AFL Premiership player, playing in arguably the toughest position on the ground, centre half forward, for mine has never received the kudos he deserves. Under Malcolm Blight, who was as strict with team rules as anyone in the history of the game, the CHF had to basically remain in the centre corridor and couldn’t roam out wide in general, had to mark or get the ball to ground in front for the best position for the crumbers. Matty was elite with intelligent knock-ons, and general body positioning, besides being a beautiful long and penetrating kick.

 

As always let’s return to the beginning…

 

Matty is the son of Barrie and Taimi (Matty has always just taken it in his stride being the son of IMO the best player to play the game in Barrie, making the point he didn’t see his dad play. It is just lovely over time to hear all the compliments of Barrie, not only as a player but as a person, and yes the limited highlights available make it pretty obvious that Barrie went ok. Huge admiration for Barrie and Taimi as parents that both Matty and brother Jon, also an ex-Redleg and Hawk, have always accepted having the last name Robran as a huge plus, never the negative connotations or pressure with having such a famous surname.

 

Matty attended Vale Park Primary School. He played for SA in the State Primary Schools side under the coaching of ex Rooster and very well respected SAAFL coach in Tony Roach.

 

 

 

Tony said Matt was a smooth mover and showed definite potential. Matt attended Marryatville High School where he became mates with Tim ‘T Shirt’ Bryson. Adelaide Uni FC readers will laugh – here are Tim’s own words:

 

“You asked about Matt Robran and the Bob Neil T-shirt. It was 1988 when we were in Year 12 at Marryatville High. Matt was doing a subject called Small Business Management, and one of his classmates set up a T-shirt design business project as part of his assessment. We decided to get a Bob Neil T-shirt printed having seen his name spray painted around town on bus stops and held up on signs at the cricket. We’d styled him as some anarchic urban legend. As he was, sort of. We had no idea who he actually was. So I wrote his name in my shaky cursive font – Bob Neil – and had it printed in red on a white T-shirt. One for Matt, one for me. We wore it at footy training that week and our coach and PE teacher just happened to be John Griffen, also coach of the Blacks. I can still remember the look of amazement on his face when he saw the shirts and asked where they came from. We also thought he was taking the piss by pretending to know who Bob was. Anyway, result was that he wanted ten more printed, with The Legend Lives On written on the back. That’s what we did. Matt and I stumbled into the story of the legend by chance, his classmate topped his class for the project, and I had a nickname ready made when I turned up to play at the Blacks the following year!”

 

Matt played Teal Cup in 1988 for SA in Canberra under the coaching of the late Robert Oatey, progressing further was considered the natural progression of astute observers.

 

Matty ended up playing for Norwood. A high five from Tom Warhurst in 1984 when Matty was 13 as Norwood were doing their victory lap after the Grand Final is something he remembers very fondly and helped making the decision to play for the Redlegs, little did he know that a few years later he would be a teammate! Ok other things contributed but eternally grateful that Matty and Jonno ended up as Norwood players.

 

Matt was a significant contributor to the 1988 Under 17 flag, playing 20 games, while being reserves captain in 1989 he made his League debut against West Adelaide at Richmond, kicking 3 goals and playing 6 senior games in total while also winning the reserves best and fairest. It shows how highly Matt was regarded being made captain. It was during that year I first met Matty and got on well with him, and I have always called him ‘son of’!

 

After a reserves final win back at the Redlegs club and very much during my drinking times, we had given each other piggy backs during the night, I got up the next morning, could hardly walk and thought bloody hell what have I done! Let’s just say my then very skinny build hadn’t bothered Matty whatsoever while I was very much the worse for wear!

 

In 1990 Matty established himself as league player, finishing 3rd in the best and fairest behind Stephen Rowe and played against WA in Perth. He polled 14 Magarey Medal votes finishing only 2 votes behind Port Adelaide gun Scott Hodges who kicked a casual 153 goals for the season.

 

Matt had been drafted by Hawthorn with draft choice 42 in 1989 and decided to have a kick and a catch with the Hawks in 1991, ironically making his AFL debut against the Crows in the Crows first ever game at Football Park. By coincidence Nick Papa Raschella and myself walked out of The Lakes Hotel just as Hawthorn were also doing so.  Bizarly, back then sides had to walk through the car park, obviously full of Crows supporters where an ale or 2 being consumed meant plenty of friendly encouragement occurred. I laughed when Matt was asked on 5AA on a ‘Where Are They Now’ segment about the abuse the Hawks copped, replied,  “I don’t really know, I was just chatting to Malcolm.”

 

Matt said the Crows played on adrenaline that night and spurred on by the crowd would have
beaten anyone, unfortunately Matt hurt his knee rucking against Romano Negri and missed the next 6 weeks.

 

Matt played 7 games during the season, he felt his best performance was against Essendon at Waverley contributing in a win which was reinforced by Garry Ayres running to him and congratulating him when the final siren went. Garry and Dermott Brereton were 2 players who Matty appreciated for their help and guidance enormously. Matt played in the Hawks 2nd final win over Geelong and contributed but with Dermie returning he missed out playing any other finals, being an emergency. Whilst he enjoyed Hawthorn he became homesick during the year and decided to return home but the Hawks weren’t happy and he was made to sit out the 1992 season. While frustrated he took it in his stride and enjoyed the chance to progress working at the time for Ansett.

 

Matty arrived at the Crows in 1993 (ironically traded for the draft choice which the Hawks used to draft Matt’s brother Jon). Matt settled in well and was just starting to really make a serious impact when he badly broke his leg against Sydney at the SCG. Who knows how different 1993 would have turned out with a fit M Robran at CHF in the finals!

 

Matthew spent the entire 1994 season recovering and getting his leg back in to shape and didn’t play a game for Adelaide, though he made 9 appearances for Norwood, kicking 8 goals against the Roosters in one of the games he played.

 

1995 was a combination of Norwood and the Crows during the Robert Shaw era.

 

1996 saw Matt return to regular AFL action, playing 21 games and winning the best team man award, then in 1997 as we all know Malcolm Blight arrived. Malcolm had strict game plans and playing CHF Matt had to stay in the centre corridor the majority of the time – yes the odd game Malcolm would consider the opposition may have a weakness at CHB and things were slightly changed, get on your bike and roam Matty, or directed the majority of the play to go through Matty. Personally, I always felt Matty was underrated with his intelligent use of his body and knock-ons, the massive torpedo goal against the Cats in the semi final at Footy Park was a highlight. If you watch the Grand Final against the Saints it highlights how many goals Matty was involved in, the spoil to Nigel Smart to goal emphasises his footy smarts. In 1997 at the celebrations at the Tennis Centre Matty saw me in the crowd, climbed down off the stage, the embrace and words between us is something I will always treasure.

 

I find it interesting going through Matt’s stats that his number of touches averaging 12 do not vary much in the Blight era, that shows the sticking to the game plan.

 

In 1998 Matty was a consistent contributor with the highlight of Matt’s year being the preliminary final, where the instructions were to get the ball to Matty at every possible opportunity highlighting the Bulldogs’ lack of tall defenders in the game plan and didn’t he deliver with 6 sausage rolls! In the Grand Final, while well blanketed by Micky Martyn, he lifted in the second half and again some intelligent knock ons were vital to the end result. We didn’t catch up after the game, this time it was lifting me above his head at the Maid and Magpie on Mad Monday which was interesting to say the least – strong bugger!

 

Matt acknowledges the vital part Neil Craig played in the Crows flags, not only were we incredibly fit but he helped install the belief that we were better than any other team.

 

1999 was a disappointing year for the club – Shaun Rehn doing his knee again slipping on the now banned bounce pad for the umpires at Footy Park was absolutely devastating. Matty (and many other players) make the point that if you could ignore Malcolm Blight’s personal side during his famous rants and blasts that he was an incredible teacher and educator of the game. Matty learnt an incredible amount from Malcolm.

 

In 2000 Gary Ayres arrived – Matty greatly appreciated the move to CHB allowing him to play with far more freedom and run and carry and use his elite leg. The move worked perfectly, playing 21 games, polling the most Brownlow votes in the club and finishing 6th in the best and fairest, the club disappointingly finished 11th.

 

In 2001 Matt was consistent playing mainly at CHB while playing 15 games, his back injury gradually progressed and proving pretty restrictive the decision was made to retire with his final game being the elimination final loss to Carlton. Matt was employed by the Crows following his retirement in 2001 and spent the next 18 years working in the communications and events teams. Matt started at the Crows as a 21 year old and departed West Lakes at 48, spending over half his life playing and working for the tri-colours.

 

Brett James adds: “Matty was a fantastic centre half forward. Blighty made him play as a stay at home CHF and at times play a lot more body on body with the opposition to make sure we had good crumbing spots and a bail out kick if under pressure coming out of defence. Reality was that Matt was an elite athlete who could have taken a lot more marks up the ground and been more dominant personally. He played his role for the team and was a huge part of why the group was successful. He would have been a gun in today’s game as an intercept marker with his great skills, agility and marking.”

 

Mark Bickley- “Matty was a selfless team man, under Malcolm’s game plan out wide through defence and then back through the corridor, Matty was the main avenue creating a path for others and sacrificing his own game for the betterment of the Adelaide FC. Matty often had to compete with the opposition CHB and ruckman floating back which he did with aplomb. Matty’s crowning individual moment was the 1998 preliminary final where Malcolm and the coaching panel felt we could exploit the Western Bulldogs lack of key defenders and there was a slight adjustment made to the game plan and to go through Matty at every opportunity and he had a license to have a shot from distance and didn’t he deliver with 6 goals! His footy nous was a vital part of our success. Quality footballer and person.”

 

Matt is now working for Novita in a variety of roles involved in fundraising helping out the overall community and the disability sector which he finds very rewarding.

 

Matty adds his hardest opponent was Glen Jakovich, who he respects enormously and the best players he played with are Darren Jarman, Andrew McLeod and Sean Rehn.

 

Matt is married to Danielle with daughters Brooke, Kayla and Aleesha and enjoys watching his daughters play sport and helping out and yep that now includes footy.

 

Matt for mine was massively underrated as a player starting out as the smooth moving defender at the Parade and then becoming the brilliant team orientated dual premiership player at the Crows – which is highlighted being chosen as the CHF in the team 1991-2021 best of Crows first 30 year.

 

‘Son of’, I’ve always greatly appreciated your friendship, thanks Matty!

 

 

 

 

 

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