Austin Robertson Sr.

Austin Robertson
Personal information
Date of birth	21 November 1907
Date of death	6 May 1988 (aged 80)[1]
Place of death	Cottesloe
Original team(s)	Xavier College
Height / weight	180 cm / 82 kg
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1927–1937	South Melbourne	154 (250)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1937.

Austin "Ocker" Robertson (21 November 1907 – 6 May 1988) was an Australian rules footballer who played with South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).

Robertson debuted with South Melbourne at the age of 18 and played for the club between 1927 and 1937. He was well regarded as a key position player at both ends of the ground. While at South Melbourne, he was also a world champion professional sprinter, winning the world title in 1930.^[2] He missed out on South Melbourne's 1933 premiership win because he was in America organising a head to head race with Eddie Tolan at the Chicago World's Fair. However, when he arrived in the United States, Tolan was not in training and was unable to race.^[3]

During the 1937 season, Robertson was transferred to Perth by his employer, General Motors-Holden. He was cleared to West Perth in the West Australian National Football League, and played there for the rest of 1937.^[4] In 1938, he switched to Perth, and served as its playing coach for the next two years.^[5] General Motors returned Robertson to Victoria in 1940 and, despite expectations that he would return to South Melbourne, he signed with Victorian Football Association club Port Melbourne for a reported £6 per week,^[6] and crossed without a clearance from South Melbourne.^[7] He played for Port Melbourne under the VFA's throw-pass rules until 1941.

He was the youngest son of Mr and Mrs John Robertson, was educated at Xavier College Kew and married Dorothy McDonald in Elwood on 22 June 1940.^[8] His son, Austin Robertson Jr. was also a champion footballer.

References

1. Metropolitan Cemeteries Board, Western Australia
2. "WORLD'S SPRINT CHAMPIONSHIP.". The Mail. Adelaide: National Library of Australia. 12 April 1930. p. 10. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
3. "Sport Sayings & Doings.". The Advocate. Burnie, Tas.: National Library of Australia. 26 October 1933. p. 3. Retrieved 24 January 2012.
4. "Robertson joins West Perth". The Argus. Melbourne, VIC. 23 July 1937. p. 17.
5. "Football – Robertson's appointment". The West Australian. Perth, WA. 18 January 1938. p. 9.
6. "Robertson turns South down". Record. Emerald Hill, VIC. 4 May 1940. p. 1.
7. "Robertson leaves South without clearance". Record. Emerald Hill, VIC. 18 May 1940. p. 1.
8. "Saxe Blue Ensemble for Bride.". The Argus. Melbourne: National Library of Australia. 24 June 1940. p. 6. Retrieved 24 January 2012.

External links

• Austin Robertson Sr.'s statistics from AFL Tables