Footyinfo

Austin Robertson

South Melbourne · “Ocka”

AFL career

154 games251 goals

Debut
R3 1927 v STK14 May 1927
Most recent
R13 1937 v COL17 July 1937

Stats

1937
SME
12
0.4
1936
SME
20
2.0
1935
SME
18
1.1
1934
SME
17
1.2
1933
SME
2
1.0
1932
SME
18
0.6
1931
SME
18
2.1
1930
SME
13
4.2
1929
SME
17
3.1
1928
SME
3
0.7
1927
SME
16
0.4
League
Season
COL
VP
R13
0.?
CAR
LO
R12
0.?
MEL
MCG
R11
0.?
STK
LO
R10
0.?
FSC
WO
R9
0.?
NTH
LO
R8
0.?
ESS
WH
R7
3.?
HAW
LO
R6
1.?
GEE
CO
R4
0.?
RCH
LO
R3
1.?
COL
LO
R2
0.?
CAR
PP
R1
0.?

Profile

Full name
Austin P. Robertson
Born
21 Nov 1907
Died
06 May 1988 (aged 80y 167d)
Birthplace
South Melbourne, VIC
Deathplace
Cottesloe, WA
Height
180 cm
Weight
82 kg

Teams

Honours

  • Brownlow Medal
    Top 10
    1927

Renowned as much for his athletic prowess as his footballing ability, Austin Robertson arrived at South Melbourne with a reputation as a world-class professional sprinter. This blistering speed defined his role on the wing and half-forward flank, where he became a difficult matchup for defenders unable to close the gap on the burst. He topped the club's goalkicking in 1931, demonstrating a potent offensive capacity that complemented the team's emerging superstars during the famous "Foreign Legion" era.

Robertson was a pivotal figure in South Melbourne's golden period of the 1930s, playing an instrumental role in the drought-breaking 1933 Premiership victory. He remained a fixture in the side during their subsequent Grand Final campaigns, acting as a consistent avenue to goal before retiring in 1937 after more than a decade of service. His legacy at the club extended to the next generation, as he was the father of Austin Robertson Jr., the prolific full-forward who achieved legendary status in the WAFL and returned to the Lake Oval to play for South Melbourne in the 1960s.