Billy Roberts
St Kilda · “Billy”
AFL career
160 games6 goals
- Debut
- R2 1928 v SME28 Apr 1928
- Most recent
- R17 1937 v NTH21 Aug 1937
Stats
Bio
Recruited from Oakleigh via Wesley College, Billy Roberts arrived at the Junction Oval in 1928 and quickly established himself as a central figure in the St Kilda lineup. While he was initially deployed on the wing, his career truly flourished when he moved into the pivot to replace the departing Barney Carr in 1930. He became the engine of the Saints' midfield for a decade, joined briefly at the club by his younger brother Arthur in the early 1930s.
Roberts was a picture of consistency during a lean era for the club, playing 160 games as a tenacious centreman who focused on distribution rather than hitting the scoreboard himself. His quality was recognised well beyond St Kilda, earning selection to represent Victoria six times—a significant achievement for a player in a struggling side. He retired in 1937 as one of the club's most loyal servants of the interwar period before going on to serve in the Australian Army during the Second World War.
Profile
- Full name
- William C. Roberts
- Born
- 04 Dec 1908
- Died
- 16 May 1998 (aged 89y 163d)
- Birthplace
- Warragul, VIC
- Deathplace
- Glen Huntly, VIC
- Height
- 178 cm
- Weight
- 74 kg
Teams
Bio
1 revisionRecruited from Oakleigh via Wesley College, Billy Roberts arrived at the Junction Oval in 1928 and quickly established himself as a central figure in the St Kilda lineup. While he was initially deployed on the wing, his career truly flourished when he moved into the pivot to replace the departing Barney Carr in 1930. He became the engine of the Saints' midfield for a decade, joined briefly at the club by his younger brother Arthur in the early 1930s.
Roberts was a picture of consistency during a lean era for the club, playing 160 games as a tenacious centreman who focused on distribution rather than hitting the scoreboard himself. His quality was recognised well beyond St Kilda, earning selection to represent Victoria six times—a significant achievement for a player in a struggling side. He retired in 1937 as one of the club's most loyal servants of the interwar period before going on to serve in the Australian Army during the Second World War.