Neil Roberts (Australian footballer)

Neil Roberts
Life-size bronze statue of Neil Roberts at Melbourne High School
Personal information
Date of birth	(1933-06-15) 15 June 1933
Original team(s)	Melbourne High School
Height	185 cm (6 ft 1 in)
Weight	84.5 kg (186 lb)
Playing career1
Years	Club	Games (Goals)
1952–1962	St Kilda	169 (40)
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1962.
Career highlights
Australian Football Hall of Fame Inductee 2015 St Kilda Best and Fairest 1955, 1958 St Kilda Team of the Century (Centre half back) Brownlow Medallist 1958 Victorian state representative 11 times All Australian 1958
Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com

Neil Edwin Roberts (born 15 June 1933) is a former Australian rules footballer in the Victorian Football League (VFL) and Brownlow Medalist.

Early life

Neil Roberts was born on 15 June 1933 to parents Edwin (Ted) Roberts (a former soccer player who migrated from England to East Brighton, Victoria) and Lelia Elfreda Roberts, nee Kilby. Roberts attended Melbourne High School between 1946 and 1949. He played under 19s football at full-forward with the Melbourne High School Old Boys Football Club where he was recruited by the St Kilda.

VFL career

Roberts debuted for St Kilda in 1952 and initially played on the forward line but despite his strong overhead marking was shifted to defence due to inaccurate goalkicking and later excelled as a centre half back, winning the Brownlow Medal in 1958. He captained the side from 1959 to 1962 before retiring at 29 years of age and commencing a career in sports journalism. He was inducted to the Saints inaugural Hall of Fame in 2003.

Personal life and post football career

His son, Michael Roberts, also played for the Saints and is now a sports broadcaster.

Neil Roberts was the officer in charge of Mawson base, Antarctica, 1971–1973. He has now retired to farming.

References

• St Kilda Hall of Fame Profile
• Australia Day ambassador profile