| Russell Robertson | |||
|---|---|---|---|
 Robertson after his last game in August 2009 | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Born | (1978-11-24)24 November 1978 (age 46) Tasmania | ||
| Original team | Tasmania U18s | ||
| Debut | Round 20, 15 August 1997,Melbourne vs.West Coast Eagles, atW.A.C.A. Ground | ||
| Height | 187 cm (6 ft 2 in) | ||
| Weight | 91 kg (201 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1997–2009 | Melbourne | 228 (428) | |
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 2009. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources:AFL Tables,AustralianFootball.com | |||
Russell "Robbo" Robertson (born 24 November 1978) is a former professionalAustralian rules footballer, who last played for theMelbourne Football Club.
Robertson is 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 regularspectacular marks.
Late in his career he was also known outside the football community, throughreality television appearances,modelling andsinging.
Robertson grew up in the small town ofPenguin, Tasmania, where he attended high school between 1991 and 1994.[1]
He played his early football in nearbyBurnie, Tasmania and recruiters first spotted him in a home video featured onThe Footy Show's "Almost Footy Legends" segment. He was added to theMelbourne 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 forMark 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 toDavid Neitz.
In 2005, he played forAustralia in his firstInternational Rules series againstIreland.
He was unlucky to missAll-Australian selection despite finishing third in theColeman 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 theSaints 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 againstCollingwood in the traditionalQueen's Birthday game at the MCG in Round 11.
On 1 June 2008, Robertson snapped hisachilles 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 againstGeelong on 3 May,2009 at theMelbourne Cricket Ground. Robertson performed well in his return, kicking three goals.
On 20 August 2009, Robertson announced that he would be playing 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 2009AFL National Draft and 2010pre-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.[2]
He played most of the 2010 season in theGoulburn Valley Football League, one of the top country leagues in Australia and kicked a record 106 goals forShepparton Swans Football Club.
In late 2010 he signed to be the playing-coach for St Josephs in theGeelong Football League.[3]
In 2012 and 2013, he signed to be a fly-in player forBurnie in theTasmanian Football League. Russell played in the 2013 Grand Final againstSouth Launceston.[4]
In 2016, Russell signed on to play at theKangaroo Flat Football Club of theBendigo Football Netball League.
In the second half of 2016 and the start of 2017, he is currently playing for theToora and District Football Club.
G | Goals | K | Kicks | D | Disposals | T | Tackles |
B | Behinds | H | Handballs | M | Marks |
| Season | Team | No. | Games | Totals | Averages (per game) | ||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| G | B | K | H | D | M | T | G | B | K | H | D | M | T | ||||
| 1997 | Melbourne | 42 | 3 | 5 | 3 | 19 | 13 | 32 | 10 | 6 | 1.7 | 1.0 | 6.3 | 4.3 | 10.7 | 3.3 | 2.0 |
| 1998 | Melbourne | 24 | 16 | 15 | 16 | 90 | 58 | 148 | 41 | 11 | 0.9 | 1.0 | 5.6 | 3.6 | 9.3 | 2.6 | 0.7 |
| 1999 | Melbourne | 24 | 13 | 11 | 11 | 65 | 38 | 103 | 36 | 3 | 0.8 | 0.8 | 5.0 | 2.9 | 7.9 | 2.8 | 0.2 |
| 2000 | Melbourne | 24 | 25 | 44 | 31 | 225 | 100 | 325 | 131 | 21 | 1.8 | 1.2 | 9.0 | 4.0 | 13.0 | 5.2 | 0.8 |
| 2001 | Melbourne | 24 | 22 | 42 | 26 | 194 | 69 | 263 | 101 | 17 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 8.8 | 3.1 | 12.0 | 4.6 | 0.8 |
| 2002 | Melbourne | 24 | 21 | 32 | 28 | 186 | 51 | 237 | 114 | 28 | 1.5 | 1.3 | 8.9 | 2.4 | 11.3 | 5.4 | 1.3 |
| 2003 | Melbourne | 24 | 22 | 41 | 29 | 220 | 89 | 309 | 125 | 23 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 10.0 | 4.0 | 14.0 | 5.7 | 1.0 |
| 2004 | Melbourne | 24 | 22 | 30 | 29 | 214 | 99 | 313 | 113 | 36 | 1.4 | 1.3 | 9.7 | 4.5 | 14.2 | 5.1 | 1.6 |
| 2005 | Melbourne | 24 | 23 | 73 | 30 | 207 | 58 | 265 | 134 | 28 | 3.2 | 1.3 | 9.0 | 2.5 | 11.5 | 5.8 | 1.2 |
| 2006 | Melbourne | 24 | 23 | 44 | 28 | 190 | 52 | 242 | 106 | 28 | 1.9 | 1.2 | 8.3 | 2.3 | 10.5 | 4.6 | 1.2 |
| 2007 | Melbourne | 24 | 15 | 42 | 28 | 139 | 30 | 169 | 85 | 10 | 2.8 | 1.9 | 9.3 | 2.0 | 11.3 | 5.7 | 0.7 |
| 2008 | Melbourne | 24 | 10 | 20 | 13 | 96 | 20 | 116 | 57 | 8 | 2.0 | 1.3 | 9.6 | 2.0 | 11.6 | 5.7 | 0.8 |
| 2009 | Melbourne | 24 | 13 | 29 | 21 | 97 | 22 | 119 | 59 | 18 | 2.2 | 1.6 | 7.5 | 1.7 | 9.2 | 4.5 | 1.4 |
| Career | 228 | 428 | 293 | 1942 | 699 | 2641 | 1112 | 237 | 1.9 | 1.3 | 8.5 | 3.1 | 11.6 | 4.9 | 1.0 | ||
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 inThe Footy Show "Screamers" talent quest competition.
Robertson released an album titledHigher in 2008.[6]
On 26 October 2006, Robertson married formerMelbourne Stormcheerleader and aspiringactress Brooke Aust.[7]
In February 2008, he was a contestant on the Australian television showDeal or No Deal.
Robertson also made an appearance in 2008 singing on the Australian television showIt Takes Two with partnerKate Ceberano in which they were runners-up.[8]
In 2012, Robertson re-joined theMelbourne Football Club to produce his own show,The Robbo Show, for the Melbourne FC website and is a regular MC at home matches at the MCG. He took over the role of Club Development Manager after the suspension and subsequent sacking ofChris Connolly for his role in theMelbourne tanking scandal.
In 2012, Robertson starred inBarassi,[9] astage show aboutRon Barassi.
In 2018, Robertson sung a drawn-out and off-key version of the Australian National Anthem at the VFL Grand Final.[10][additional citation(s) needed]
In September 2018, Robertson was a football consultant, and appeared in Season 1, episode 2, on the Australian dramaPlaying for Keeps.[11]
| Title | Details | Peak chart positions |
|---|---|---|
| AUS [12] | ||
| Higher |
| 88 |
