Russell Robertson
Encyclopedia
Russell "Robbo" Robertson (born 24 November 1978) is a professional Australian rules football
er, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club
.
Robertson is a 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
.
, where he attended high school between 1991 and 1994.
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.
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 May 3, 2009
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
. Robertson performed well in his return, kicking three goals.
On the 20 August 2009, Robertson announced that he would be play 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.
He was featured in The Footy Show
Screamers talent quest competition. Bands he has played in include No Soup For You and, more recently the Russell Robertson Trio.
On 26 October 2006 Robertson married former Melbourne Storm
cheerleader and aspiring actress Brooke Aust. They have a son, Tex (born September 2010).
In February 2008 he was a contestant on the Australian television show Deal or No Deal
. But he had a terrible game winning just $1.
Robertson also made an appearance in 2008 singing on the Australian television show It Takes Two with partner Kate Ceberano
. Melbourne teammates David Neitz
, Cameron Bruce
, Brad Green
and Jared Rivers
made brief appearances supporting him in the audience. He later finished second in the competition.
He has since released an album titled Higher, with Studio version of some of the songs he performed on the show, including "Summer of '69
", "Jessie's Girl
" and "Eagle Rock
". The album also contains a cover of "Flame Trees
" with Kate Ceberano
.
In 2008, he was signed to suit designer Jeff Banks
and appeared in a series of billboard
advertisements.
In 2011, he will be coaching the seniors for the St Joseph's football team in the Geelong Football League
(GFL).
Australian rules football
Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...
er, who last played for the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
.
Robertson is a 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
Reality television
Reality television is a genre of television programming that presents purportedly unscripted dramatic or humorous situations, documents actual events, and usually features ordinary people instead of professional actors, sometimes in a contest or other situation where a prize is awarded...
appearances, modelling
Model (person)
A model , sometimes called a mannequin, is a person who is employed to display, advertise and promote commercial products or to serve as a subject of works of art....
and singing
Singing
Singing is the act of producing musical sounds with the voice, and augments regular speech by the use of both tonality and rhythm. One who sings is called a singer or vocalist. Singers perform music known as songs that can be sung either with or without accompaniment by musical instruments...
.
Early life
Robertson grew up in the small town of Penguin, TasmaniaPenguin, Tasmania
Penguin is a town in the north-west coast of Tasmania, Australia. It is located in the Central Coast Council Local Government Area on the Bass Highway, between Burnie and Ulverstone. At the 2006 census, Penguin had a population of 2,943....
, where he attended high school between 1991 and 1994.
He played his early football in nearby Burnie, Tasmania
Burnie, Tasmania
- Sport :Australian rules football is popular in Burnie. The city's team is the Burnie Dockers Football Club in the Tasmanian State League.Rugby union is also played in Burnie. The local club is the Burnie Rugby Union Club. They are the current Tasmanian Rugby Union Statewide Division Two Premiers...
and recruiters first spotted him in a home video featured on The Footy Show
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
's "Almost Footy Legends" segment. He was added to the Melbourne Football Club
Melbourne Football Club
The Melbourne Football Club, nicknamed The Demons, is an Australian rules football club playing in the Australian Football League , based in Melbourne, Victoria....
rookie list and seen as a potential player.
AFL career
Mark of the Year
The annual Mark of the Year competition is a sporting award that celebrates each season's best mark...
, 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
David Neitz
David Neitz , nicknamed Neita, is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne player to achieve the 300-game milestone.Neitz was born in...
.
In 2005, he played for Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
in his first International Rules
International rules football
International rules football is a team sport consisting of a hybrid of football codes, which was developed to facilitate international representative matches between Australian rules football players and Gaelic football players....
series against Ireland
Ireland
Ireland is an island to the northwest of continental Europe. It is the third-largest island in Europe and the twentieth-largest island on Earth...
.
He was unlucky to miss All-Australian selection despite finishing third in the Coleman medal
Coleman Medal
The Coleman Medal is awarded yearly to the Australian Football League player who kicks the most goals in regular-season matches in that year...
. 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
Collingwood Football Club
The Collingwood Football Club, nicknamed The Magpies, is an Australian rules football club which plays in the Australian Football League...
in the traditional Queen's Birthday game at the MCG in Round 11.
On 1 June 2008, Robertson snapped his achilles tendon
Achilles tendon
The Achilles tendon , also known as the calcaneal tendon or the tendo calcaneus, is a tendon of the posterior leg. It serves to attach the plantaris, gastrocnemius and soleus muscles to the calcaneus bone.- Anatomy :The Achilles is the tendonous extension of 3 muscles in the lower leg:...
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
Geelong Football Club
The Geelong Football Club, nicknamed The Cats, is a professional Australian rules football club, named after and based in the city of Geelong, playing in the Australian Football League . The club has been the VFL/AFL premiers nine times, with a record equalling 3 in the AFL era. Geelong has also...
on May 3, 2009
2009 AFL season
-Round 1 :-Round 2:-Round 3 :-Round 4:-Round 5 :-Round 6:-Round 7:-Round 8:-Round 9 :-Round 10:...
at the Melbourne Cricket Ground
Melbourne Cricket Ground
The Melbourne Cricket Ground is an Australian sports stadium located in Yarra Park, Melbourne and is home to the Melbourne Cricket Club. It is the tenth largest stadium in the world, the largest in Australia, the largest stadium for playing cricket, and holds the world record for the highest light...
. Robertson performed well in his return, kicking three goals.
On the 20 August 2009, Robertson announced that he would be play 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
AFL Pre-season Draft
The AFL Pre-season Draft is the drafting of uncontracted players to teams in the Australian Football League. The draft is conducted after the National AFL Draft and before the start of the next AFL season. It is conducted at the same time as the AFL rookie 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.
Non-football activities
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
The AFL Footy Show
The Footy Show is a Logie Award winning Australian sports television program, shown on the Nine Network and its affiliates.This show, which is dedicated to the AFL and Australian rules football, made its debut on 24 March 1994 at the same time as the other version which relates to the NRL and rugby...
Screamers talent quest competition. Bands he has played in include No Soup For You and, more recently the Russell Robertson Trio.
On 26 October 2006 Robertson married former Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
cheerleader and aspiring actress Brooke Aust. They have a son, Tex (born September 2010).
In February 2008 he was a contestant on the Australian television show Deal or No Deal
Deal or No Deal (Australian game show)
Deal or No Deal is an Australian game show airing on the Seven Network and in New Zealand on Prime . It was the first international version of the game show, after the original Dutch version. It was the first of the versions to use the Deal or No Deal name...
. But he had a terrible game winning just $1.
Robertson also made an appearance in 2008 singing on the Australian television show It Takes Two with partner Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
. Melbourne teammates David Neitz
David Neitz
David Neitz , nicknamed Neita, is a retired Australian rules footballer. The strongly built centre half back who became a full forward was the longest-serving captain in the history of the Melbourne Football Club and the first Melbourne player to achieve the 300-game milestone.Neitz was born in...
, Cameron Bruce
Cameron Bruce
Cameron Bruce is a professional Australian rules football player, who plays for the Hawthorn Football Club after being selected by the Hawks in the Pre-season Draft, as was widely speculated to occur after he quit playing for the Melbourne Football Club, with whom he had played for 11 seasons, and...
, Brad Green
Brad Green (footballer)
Brad Green is a professional Australian rules football player and the current captain of the Melbourne Football Club's in the Australian Football League .-Early life:...
and Jared Rivers
Jared Rivers
Jared Rivers is a centre-half back for the Melbourne Demons in the Australian Football League .As a child he supported the Sydney Swans and cites Tony Lockett and Paul Kelly as his childhood heroes...
made brief appearances supporting him in the audience. He later finished second in the competition.
He has since released an album titled Higher, with Studio version of some of the songs he performed on the show, including "Summer of '69
Summer of '69
"Summer of '69" is a song recorded by Canadian recording artist Bryan Adams, from his fourth studio album, Reckless . The song was written by Adams and Jim Vallance, a long-time writing partner of Adams. "Summer of '69" was produced by Adams and Bob Clearmountain. It was released in June 1985 under...
", "Jessie's Girl
Jessie's Girl
"Jessie's Girl" is a rock song written and performed by pop singer Rick Springfield. It was released on the album Working Class Dog. The song is about unrequited love, and centers on a young man in love with his best friend's girlfriend....
" and "Eagle Rock
Eagle Rock (song)
"Eagle Rock" is a classic Australian song, released by Daddy Cool in May 1971 on the Sparmac Record Label. It went on to become the best selling Australian single of the year, achieving gold status in eleven weeks, and remaining at #1 on the national charts for a record ten weeks. "Eagle Rock"...
". The album also contains a cover of "Flame Trees
Flame Trees
"Flame Trees" is a song by Australian pub rock band Cold Chisel from their 1984 album Twentieth Century. It is one of their best known songs, and was written by drummer Steve Prestwich and organist Don Walker...
" with Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano
Kate Ceberano is an Australian singer. She achieved success in the soul, jazz and pop genres as well as in her brief forays into musicals with Jesus Christ Superstar and film...
.
In 2008, he was signed to suit designer Jeff Banks
Jeff Banks
Jeff Banks CBE is a Welsh designer of men's and women's clothing, jewellery, and home furnishings. Born in Ebbw Vale, Wales, Banks co-founded the fashion chain Warehouse in the late 1970s...
and appeared in a series of billboard
Billboard
Billboard is a weekly American magazine devoted to the music industry, and is one of the oldest trade magazines in the world. It maintains several internationally recognized music charts that track the most popular songs and albums in various categories on a weekly basis...
advertisements.
In 2011, he will be coaching the seniors for the St Joseph's football team in the Geelong Football League
Geelong Football League
The Geelong Football League is an Australian rules football league in Victoria, Australia. It is the highest quality league in the Geelong area, with numerous former AFL players playing for various clubs.-History:...
(GFL).