Footyinfo

Robert Dean

Collingwood and South Melbourne

AFL career

187 games118 goals

Debut
R15 1969 v CAR19 July 1969
Most recent
R2 1980 v FSC7 Apr 1980

Stats

1980
SME
2
11.0
5.5
16.5
5.0
1.0
3.5
1.0
0.5
1979
SME
9
8.7
4.4
13.1
5.1
1.6
2.4
0.8
0.7
1978
SME
18
8.7
3.6
12.3
4.0
2.5
1.9
0.5
0.5
1977
SME
17
9.7
4.0
13.7
4.9
2.9
2.9
1.5
1.4
1976
SME
20
10.7
2.6
13.3
4.7
2.7
2.3
1.9
1.2
1975
COL
17
12.7
2.0
14.7
4.7
3.2
1.9
0.1
0.0
1974
COL
19
11.8
3.9
15.7
4.8
2.4
2.1
0.1
0.3
1973
COL
22
14.4
3.5
17.9
7.0
2.2
2.2
0.1
0.1
1972
COL
21
12.5
3.0
15.5
6.0
2.8
2.2
0.9
1.0
1971
COL
19
13.9
3.1
17.0
5.6
2.2
2.3
0.2
0.4
1970
COL
22
9.5
2.0
11.5
3.3
2.2
1.7
0.5
0.5
1969
COL
1
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
0.0
League
Season
FSC
LO
R2
6
5
11
4
1
2
1
2.1
GEE
KP
R1
16
6
22
6
1
5
0
0.0

Profile

Born
20 Oct 1950 (age 76y 8d)
Height
189 cm
Weight
83 kg

Teams

Honours

Robert Dean was a versatile tall recruited from Ivanhoe Amateurs who became a valuable utility for Collingwood during the 1970s. Standing 189cm, he possessed the height of a key position player but the mobility of a midfielder, often featuring on a wing where his rangy stride and overhead marking gave the Magpies a distinct aerial advantage. After sitting on the bench for his debut in 1969, Dean broke out in 1970, cementing a spot in the side that famously lost the Grand Final to Carlton. Despite Collingwood's heartbreaking run of finals defeats in that era, Dean developed a reputation as a big-game performer, winning the club's best finals player award in both 1972 and 1973.

Seeking the opportunity to play permanently as a key forward rather than a roaming wingman, Dean requested a clearance to South Melbourne ahead of the 1976 season. The move paid immediate dividends; he booted eight goals on debut against Geelong and followed up with six majors against his old side the very next week. He finished his first year at the Lake Oval as South Melbourne's leading goalkicker with 37 majors, vindicating his desire to play closer to goal. He remained a consistent contributor for the Swans for five seasons, utilising his strong marking hands and experience to anchor the forward line before retiring in 1980.