WAFL Star, Austin Robertson and Phil Johns last Friday in Saigon.

Last Friday, Swannies President, Phil Johns caught up briefly with WAFL and VFL star, Austin Robertson. Yesterday, Austin visited the Long Tan Cross with Swannie, Glenn Nolan from Tommy’s Bar (a Club sponsor) in Vung Tau.

Robertson, is the WAFL’s leading goal kicker and, according to the West Australian newspaper in an article published on 7 May of last year, is “probably the most glaring example of deserving West Australian footballers absent from the AFL Hall of Fame”.

Wikipedia states that Robertson Jr (his father, Austin Snr, played for South Melbourne) was “a full forward and by the time he left Subiaco in 1974 he had amassed a WAFL record goal tally of 1211 goals, topped the season ending goalkicking tables eight times and kicked over 100 goals in a season six times.”

In addition to his WAFL haul, he also kicked 60 goals with South Melbourne during his sole VFL season in 1967 and 44 goals in 10 State matches for a total of 1315 goals. This puts Robertson in very exclusive company.

Only North Adelaide’s Ken Farmer (1417 goals), and St Kilda/Sydney star, Tony Lockett (1360), have kicked more goals at senior level.

Robertson in action for Subiaco.

Robertson was a premiership player with Subiaco in 1973. So, in summary, no wonder Subiaco President, Neil Randall, has been lobbying Robertson’s former team mate and Chief Commissioner of the AFL, Mike Fitzpatrick, for his inclusion into the AFL’s Hall of Fame!

After his playing career ended, Robertson worked for Kerry Packer and played a key role in the establishment of World Series Cricket.

Interestingly, just last month, the Age newspaper reported that Channel 9 is recording a television program titled, Howzat!!

“Subtitled Kerry Packer’s War, it’s the tale, in the words of the media release, of how the late former owner of the network ‘took on the cricket establishment and won’. In less hyperbolic terms, it’s the story of World Series Cricket”, writes The Age.

The Age continues, “One thing Howzat! will make clear for the first time is the central role John Cornell played in the coup that changed cricket. Though best known to the public as Paul Hogan’s dim-witted TV sidekick Strop, Cornell was a savvy operator and, together with player manager Austin Robertson, were the originators of the World Series Concept.”

Austin is a big fan of Vietnam and the Vietnam Swans. He will return to Australia in the next few days – but expects to be back here again in the next few months.

Related item of interest:

Sporting stars to honour Austin Robertson Jnr, West Australian, 30 January, 2009.