Bernard Whimpress returns to the words he wrote about Barrie in his 1983 book, The South Australian Football Story.
Barrie Robran deserves the accolade ‘The Champion’.
Geof Motley, star Port Adelaide player, 1964 Magarey Medallist, and Robran’s first coach, once said: “There are great players and then there is Robran.”
John Cahill, Port Adelaide and state coach played in Robran’s Testimonial Match in 1981. After that game he said: “I have never seen a player as good as Barrie nor do I ever expect to again.”
Neil Kerley, South Australian coach in Robran’s first year wrote his praise after Barrie’s second Magarey Medal success in 1970: “If allowed to play at centre or as a ruck-rover, I felt he could go on winning medals indefinitely. But if exposed to negative, close-checking opponents at centre-half-forward his brilliance can be dimmed. There have been few footballers blessed with the natural skills that Robran possesses. He seems to have all the time in the world to do what he wants to do with the ball.”
The same day that Kerley’s piece appeared the Advertiser made the following editorial comment: “Barrie Robran is one of those footballers who, when it comes to Magarey Medal points, begins with built-in advantages. They may have their off days but if for nothing else stand out because of their scrupulous fairness. They really do play like gentlemen – Robran, in fact, as if he were to apologise for his very brilliance.”
If that were the case, his apologies must have been numerous. There was never really such a thing as a Robran off-day and many footballers who watched his games in this state and glued their eyes to VFL telecasts claimed he was the best player they had ever seen. That North Adelaide’s coach at the time, Mike Patterson, a man whose Victorian career coincided with players of the calibre of Royce Hart, Alex Jesaulenko, Ian Stewart and Darrell Baldock, endorsed this view seemed proof enough: “He’s incredible, name any Victorian and Barrie can match him in any phase. I’ve seen him do things that the best players over there have been unable to accomplish.””
Certainly, the memory of Robran standing head and shoulders above his opponents as he took mark after mark from the clouds in North’s Australian Championship win over Carlton in 1972 left a strong impression on the people who were there that day. On several occasions the legendary Alex Jesaulenko, who stood Robran for part of the game, applauded the amazing artistry of the Rooster champion. His football genius (especially in the years between 1967 and 1974) was unparalleled and he can rightly lay claim to being South Australia’s greatest-ever footballer. Whether or not his artistry was superior to triple Brownlow Medallist Haydn Bunton senior, or Essendon’s legendary Albert Thurgood in the late nineteenth century is hypothetical.
From the beginning when he came to the city from Whyalla as a shy lad of nineteen, he had the stamp of greatness. In his first year (1967) his coach at North Adelaide, Geof Motley, enthused: “He’s the best first-year player I have seen and we (the club) hope he can progress in the same vein as he has started.”
The magical Number 10 was not to let anyone down and in his first interstate match against Victoria that year played on the wing and gathered nineteen kicks in opposition to Hawthorn’s seasoned campaigner Des Meagher. He also played in the other interstate match against Western Australia and capped a memorable season by finishing third in the Magarey Medal behind Trevor Obst and his own boyhood idol Don Lindner[1], who was popular favourite to win that year.
By his second season, Robran was recognised as a complete footballer, complete in the sense that there were no manoeuvres which he could not execute. It was no surprise then that in 1968 he won the first of six successive best and awards for North Adelaide and gathered his first Magarey Medal. Motley ended his coaching career in 1969 when North missed the finals, and he was replaced Richmond and Victorian star Mike Patterson who lifted the club into fourth position in his first season. Barrie Robran was the inspiration to the side, playing mainly at centre-half-forward and winning his second Magarey Medal.
The early 1970s were peak years for him and they coincided with North Adelaide winning back-to-back premierships in 1971-2 and finishing runner-up to Glenelg in the 1973 Grand Final. In 1973 he won his third Magarey Medal, becoming the fifth man in South Australian football to achieve this feat.[2] At the end of that year he had played 144 league games and 15 for South Australia.
In 1974 Robran was appointed South Australian interstate game in the first interstate match played on Football Park. The side, coached by Mike Patterson, defeated Western Australia by twenty points. A fortnight later he led the state against Victoria. The match was in Sydney and provided a comfortable victory for the Victorians. In the dying minutes of the game, however, tragedy struck the new skipper as he badly injured his left knee when sandwiched between Victorian players Leigh Matthews and Bernie Quinlan. Despite successive operations the knee never healed and he was forced to wear a brace which restricted his pace and freedom of movement.
From the time of his injury Robran added only 44 games in six seasons and showed merely the occasional twinkle of his former class. An incredible exception was a match against Norwood on 24 May 1980 when, despite the limitations of the brace, he gained 21 kicks, 16 handpasses, took 11 marks and had seven hit-outs to be best on ground. Sadly, however, though his endeavour won a close game for North, extreme pain caused him to miss the match the following week and he retired two games later.
When he finished, Barrie Robran had played 201 games for North Adelaide and 17 for South Australia. He also captained North between 1974 and 1977 and coached the side from 1978 to 1980.
A talented all-round sportsman, he was also an opening batsman for Prospect in District Cricket for several years and represented South Australia in two Sheffield Shield matches in 1972-3 and had a limited-over match against Western Australia in which he scored 42. Though he never developed the talents because of football commitments, he has also shown considerable skill at basketball and tennis. Robran was awarded an MBE in the 1982 New Year’s Honours List.
Photo: Bernard Whimpress
[1] Don Lindner later won a share of the 1967 Magarey Medal retrospectively.
[2] A retrospective award to Norwood’s 1920s star ‘Wacka’ Scott would subsequently see him win three Magarey Medals.
About Bernard Whimpress
Freelance historian (mainly sport) who has just written his 40th book. Will accept writing commissions with reasonable pay. Among his most recent books are George Giffen: A Biography, The Towns: 100 Years of Glory 1919-2018, Joe Darling: Cricketer, Farmer, Politician and Family Man (with Graeme Ryan) and The MCC Official Ashes Treasures (5th edition).
Nice piece Bernie. We both had the privilege of watching Barrie play and later getting to know him when he contributed with much enthusiasm to the early editions of Football Times.
After this was originally written, Barrie was retrospectively awarded the 1967 North B&F alongside Sir Don, giving him seven in a row. Apart from that, this tribute has certainly rings true today Bernard. Well played.
Thanks Ash and Swish
So many grand memories and I saw him make that 42 for SA and a lot on the tennis courts at Memorial Drive where you’d swear if he made the game a priority in his youth he’d have played Davis Cup. I think we were also fortunate to see him playing football in an era when the game was more spectacular than today and especially the variety of kicking skills. I recall with pleasure the lunch time break during Les Favell’s Testimonial match when three old timers Robran, Ebert and Bagshaw opposed three current players in Michael Aish, Chris McDermott and Greg Phillips with each having to kick drop kicks, screw punts (torpedo for the Vics) and drop punts. Phillips kicked a great screwy but otherwise the oldies won easily with Barrie best with all kicks.
I knew the Robrans because I lived in Ward St, Whyalla – the same street his family lived in. Though he was 7 years older than me & I couldn’t play footy for nuts I, like everybody in town, all knew of his brilliant talents, mainly I think because he worked at them, didn’t take his talents for granted so was unfailingly modest & played fair. If only there were more like him to show us how NOT to take the limelight, assuming somehow they’re more important than the team you’re supposed to be part of or the game itself. They’re not & Barrie always knew that.
I can see him now, walking past our front gate, bouncing his ball no doubt on the way back from Memorial Oval around the corner where he’d go for practice, always head down, watching the ball but as keen to avoid attention as that was how to give his best to the job that needed to be done. For that, I’ve ways thought of him as truly noble &, although I didn’t know them personally, I suspect this somehow came from his family to whom he was intensely loyal.
Much has been said – not least by Barrie himself – of his loyalty to North Adelaide – it’s usually trotted out to explain why he didn’t come to Victoria – but I suspect the deeper loyalty was always to hearth & home, parents and siblings at first then to his wife Taimi & there own family.
I could play a bit of tennis in those days so was lucky to know his sister who played in my club. She was a better netballer – also a representative player, I believe – blessed with the same athletic grace & modest bearing. Again, I suspect these qualities were not only inherited but acquired & encouraged by and within a very special family setting.
My thoughts & deepest sympathy then extend not only to all those of us who admired his talent both on and off the field for courage, fairness, hard work and his strength of character in face of setback but most especially to all his family & friends who must feel his loss so very, very keenly.
Barrie Robran was above all a champion because he reminds us that we can all be thus; no matter where we come from, what we do, for how long or not, how successful we are or not, it’s how we go about it that really counts
Like all of honour, his life rather than his achievements, should and I hope, continue to inspire.
BB.
Thank you Barrie Burton
For those gracious words which befit an exceptional man.
Bernard minor suggested change -Barrie did tie with-Don Lindner for the Rossters b and f in 67.
The game against-Norwood in 80 he was bog by a mile I was disappointed that the legs had lost and then it hit me about -8 o clock how lucky I had been to see the greatest deliver yet another unbelievable game.
Have spoken to both -Neil Balme and John Wynne who have said they had that exact conversation also about the same time -that game is still spoken about by the legs players in reverence re number-10
We farewell not only the greatest player of all time but a magnificent human being as well – thank you
As a 10 year old boy living in Port Pirie, both Barrie and Rodney came to my primary school in 1974 and gave us a footy clinic. I knew a little bit about him as we use to travel down with my Dad to Adelaide when the Roosters played the Double Blues. Both the Robran’s were unbelievably generous with their time and made all the boys feel special. I remember Barrie showing me how to kick a drop kick stabby, I went home to the farm and practiced every day after school hour upon hour. What a legend he was and will always be.
Chris
Thanks Rulebook
And especially those remarks coming from the Redlegs.
A delightful story, Chris Nichols.
If modern players could stab pass we might be rid of so many one-arm spoilers.
Wonderful read. Thanks, Bernard.
Harvey Merrigan went on a Galahs tour with Barrie. or trained with him for a tour. He told me the Vics in the team who were all quality players were in awe of how good Robran was. Jezza was heard to remark if this bloke comes to Victoria we will all look like amateurs.
Good read Bernard thx
Thanks Smokie and Hayden
And for mentioning Jezza’s remark which as many of us attending the 1972 Champions of Australia match recall his generous acknowledgment of Barrie’s skills that day.
A fabulous read , beautifully written and some great comments re his abilities and higher human qualities,
Thank you
Frank
Cheers Frank.
The first SANFL game I attended as an 8 year old from the country was that North v Norwood game at Football Park in May 1980 when Robran dominated on one leg. Unfortunately all I remember was that it was an overcast day and North won a close game. I was more excited that I saw myself on tv both during the news highlights and the Saturday night replay.
Cheers Greg
Pretty exciting for an 8-year-old being on TV and all. But at least you were there and had a better experience than those who attended Adelaide Oval and saw Bradman make a duck in the first innings of the 1947 Test or London’s Kennington Oval when he made another duck in 1948.