Leigh Robertson

[greysong]

Can anyone remember Leigh Robertson? Played 80 games for the 'roys in the late '60s-early '70s. He is currently my supervising teacher on a teaching round and he mentioned that he played for Fitzroy. Am keen to hear any details about him on the footy field if anyone remembers.

 

[Fat Pizza]

I was just thinking about him today, when I heard someone with a similar name was arrested for alleged murder. I'm glad it is not the same bloke.

He was just an ordinary half-back flanker. Nothing special from what I remember. His brother Glenn played for Fitzroy at the same time. He was also a flanker/wingman type. Their grandfather, Tom Corrigan played in the centre in Fitzroy's 1922 Premiership team.

Leigh's final season with Fitzroy was 1974. The Roys won the Reserves Premiership that season. I can't remember, but I think Leigh may have played in that team. If he did, it would be good to hear his memories of the day.

Fitzroy was involved in a few memorable games while Leigh was with them. In April 1970, the Roys beat 1969 Premiers, Richmond in a Sunday game at the MCG in front of the Royal Family. Two weeks later, they played Geelong in the first match at VFL Park. Leigh didn't play in either of those matches, but may have been in the Reserves. In 1971, the Roys beat Carlton in a famous match at the Junction Oval, where a heavy fog enveloped the ground for the 2nd half of the match. That loss kept 1970 Premiers, Carlton out of the finals. I'm not sure whether Leigh played in that match either, but I imagine he'd remember all those games.

Kevin Murray won the Brownlow Medal in Leigh's first season, 1969. That was a huge moment for Fitzroy, as Murray was such a legend at the club & had already placed 2nd twice & 3rd once in the Medal. In those days the players didn't attend the Brownlow vote-count. People used to listen to the votes on radio. Fitzroy was holding a B&F function that night, so all the players were together when they heard Murray had won. They lifted him onto their shoulders & carried him through the city.

There are a few things you could ask him about.

 

[skilts]

Never met Leigh, but knew his brother Glenn pretty well. Used to talk to him for a couple of hours every Saturday morning as our respective kids learnt to swim. As has been stated, Leigh was a competent rather than champion player, but he can't have been a complete dud to play that many games.

When I knew him, Glenn was working as a Sales Manager with Cadbury's. This was entirely appropriate, seeing his grand or great-grandfather (can't remember which) was Mac Robertson, who founded MacRobertson Chocolates, an icon of Australian confectionary over many decades. He invented the 'Cherry Ripe', the 'Freddo Frog', 'Snack' and 'Old Gold Chocolates'. The naming of MacRobertson Girls' High School acknowledges one of his many philanthropic interests. The company was eventually subsumed by Cadbury.

It would require a long march to find a more witty, personable, intelligent and self-effacing bloke than Glenn. As a footballer, Glenn probably had less application than Leigh, but was possibly more naturally talented. He was a very strong utility of about 6'2" and 13 stone.

Edit: This is rambling on a bit, but a Google of Mac Robertson is worthwhile. During the 1920s and 30s he: was the richest man in Australia; funded Mawson's Antarctic expeditions (the reason Australia now has part of the Antarctic as its territory); funded the building of the herbarium at Melbourne's Botanic Gardens; had MacRobertson Bridge at the bottom of Grange Rd, in Toorak, which he funded, named after him; funded several aeroplane races between England and Australia, which allowed that journey to be reduced to three days duration; became the single-most significant figure in the history of world crocquet; was knighted in 1935. Judging from Mac's birthdate, it would seem Glenn and Leigh were his great-grandchildren. It seems singularly apposite that he set up his first chocolate factory in 1880, in his mother's bathroom, in Fitzroy.

 

[Fat Pizza]

Never met Leigh, but knew his brother Glenn pretty well. Used to talk to him for a couple of hours every Saturday morning as our respective kids learnt to swim. As has been stated, Leigh was a competent rather than champion player, but he can't have been a complete dud to play that many games.

When I knew him, Glenn was working as a Sales Manager with Cadbury's. This was entirely appropriate, seeing his grand or great-grandfather (can't remember which) was Mac Robertson, who founded MacRobertson Chocolates, an icon of Australian confectionary over many decades. He invented the 'Cherry Ripe', the 'Freddo Frog', 'Snack' and 'Old Gold Chocolates'. The naming of MacRobertson Girls' High School acknowledges one of his many philanthropic interests. The company was eventually subsumed by Cadbury.

It would require a long march to find a more witty, personable, intelligent and self-effacing bloke than Glenn. As a footballer, Glenn probably had less application than Leigh, but was possibly more naturally talented. He was a very strong utility of about 6'2" and 13 stone.

Edit: This is rambling on a bit, but a Google of Mac Robertson is worthwhile. During the 1920s and 30s he: was the richest man in Australia; funded Mawson's Antarctic expeditions (the reason Australia now has part of the Antarctic as its territory); funded the building of the herbarium at Melbourne's Botanic Gardens; had MacRobertson Bridge at the bottom of Grange Rd, in Toorak, which he funded, named after him; funded several aeroplane races between England and Australia, which allowed that journey to be reduced to three days duration; became the single-most significant figure in the history of world crocquet; was knighted in 1935. Judging from Mac's birthdate, it would seem Glenn and Leigh were his great-grandchildren. It seems singularly apposite that he set up his first chocolate factory in 1880, in his mother's bathroom, in Fitzroy.

Fascinating stuff. I didn't know of that family connection.

 

[morrie haar]

Can anyone remember Leigh Robertson? Played 80 games for the 'roys in the late '60s-early '70s. He is currently my supervising teacher on a teaching round and he mentioned that he played for Fitzroy. Am keen to hear any details about him on the footy field if anyone remembers.

Leigh played about 60 games with Northcote in VFA between ‘75 to ‘78.