Brian Roberts (Australian rules footballer)
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| Brian Stuart Roberts | |||
|---|---|---|---|
.jpg) Roberts at the Duke of Wellington | |||
| Personal information | |||
| Date of birth | 28 April 1945 | ||
| Place of birth | Barnsley | ||
| Date of death | 6 August 2016 (aged 71) | ||
| Original team(s) | South Adelaide Football Club | ||
| Height | 198 cm (6 ft 6 in) | ||
| Weight | 120 kg (265 lb) | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1968–1970 | East Fremantle | 57 (46) | |
| 1971–1975 | Richmond | 78 (34) | |
| 1975 | South Melbourne | 15 (2) | |
| Total | 150 (83) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1975. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
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 state teams: South Australia, Victoria and Western Australia.
Roberts was born in the UK, and with his family emigrated to Millicent, South Australia. In his late teens, the 199 cm ruckman was attracting interest from VFL clubs, but the 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.
