| Neil Roberts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Life-size bronze statue atMelbourne High School | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1933-06-15)15 June 1933 (age 92) | ||
| Original team | Melbourne High School Old Boys | ||
| Height | 185 cm (6 ft 1 in) | ||
| Weight | 84.5 kg (186 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1952–1962 | St Kilda | 169 (40) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1962. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Neil Edwin Roberts (born 15 June 1933) is a formerAustralian rules footballer in theVictorian Football League (VFL) and aBrownlow Medalist.
Neil Roberts was born on 15 June 1933 to parents Edwin (Ted) Roberts (a former soccer player who migrated fromEngland toEast Brighton, Victoria) and Lelia Elfreda Roberts, née Kilby. Roberts attendedMelbourne High School between 1946 and 1949. He played under 19s football at full-forward with theMelbourne High School Old Boys Football Club where he was recruited by theSt Kilda.[1]
Roberts debuted forSt Kilda in 1952 and initially played on the forward line but despite his strong overhead marking was shifted to defence due to inaccurate goalkicking and later excelled as acentre half back, winning theBrownlow Medal in 1958. He captained the side from 1959 to 1962 before retiring at 29 years of age and commencing a career in sports journalism. He was inducted to theSaints inaugural Hall of Fame in 2003.
Roberts later worked for theAustralian Antarctic Division (AAD) and was the officer in charge ofMawson Station – a base in theAustralian Antarctic Territory – during 1971–1973. After leaving AAD, he became a farmer.
His son,Michael Roberts, also played for the Saints and was later a sports broadcaster.
