Brian Roberts (Australian rules footballer)

Brian Stuart Roberts (28 April 1945 – 6 August 2016) was an Australian rules football player who played in the VFL between 1971 and 1975 for the Richmond Football Club (as well as a short stint with South Melbourne in 1975). Roberts was known as "The Whale" due to his enormous stature and played as a ruckman. He was the only player to have represented all three States, South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.

Brian Stuart Roberts
Roberts at the Duke of Wellington
Personal information
Date of birth	(1945-04-28)28 April 1945
Place of birth	Barnsley
Date of death	6 August 2016(2016-08-06) (aged 71)
Original team(s)	South Adelaide Football Club
Height	198 cm (6 ft 6 in)
Weight	120 kg (265 lb)
Playing career^1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1971–1975	Richmond	78 (34)
1975	South Melbourne	15 0(2)
Total		93 (36)
^1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1975.
Career highlights
Richmond premiership player: 1973 & 1974 South Australia Carnival team 1966 Western Australian Carnival team 1969, Victoria State Team 1972
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Early life

Roberts was born in the UK, and with his family emigrated to Millicent. In his late teens the 199 cm ruckman was attracting interest from VFL clubs but new South Adelaide coach Neil Kerley, persuaded Roberts to join the Club.

SANFL

Roberts joined South Adelaide in 1964 and debuted the following year. He learnt the craft of being a ruckman from his teammate and coach Neil Kerley.

WAFL

Robert spent four seasons with East Fremantle, it included being selected in the Western Australian state team in 1969.

VFL

Richmond enticed him to Victoria where he played from 1971-1975, and was a Premiership player in 1973 and 1974. He also represented Victoria in interstate games..

Roberts was part of the John Pitura trade in which Pitura went to Richmond in exchange for Roberts, Francis Jackson and Graham Teasdale. In the 15 games he played with the Swans he caught the umpire eye and was second in the Brownlow Medal.

In the 1976 pre-season he had a disagreement with coach Ian Stewart and walked out on South Melbourne.

Roberts was a publican and for many years had a hotel in South Melbourne. "Have a ale with the Whale" was his motto. In the 1990s he took over the licensee of the Duke of Wellington Hotel in Flinders St, as well as writing newspaper columns and radio football commentary.

He died on 6 August 2016.[1][2]

References

1. Brian Roberts, dual Richmond premiership player, passes away, aged 70 | Herald Sun
2. https://www.safc.com.au/blog/panthers-mourn-the-loss-of--the-whale-

• 1971 Tiger Year Book - Richmond Football Club