AFL world mourning death of Barrie Robran, the first South Australian legend in the Hall of Fame
Australian football Hall of Fame Legend and arguably South Australia’s greatest footballer, Barrie Robran, has died.
Robran, who won three Magarey Medals as the best player in the SANFL, as well as seven best and fairests for his club North Adelaide across 201 games, was 77.
One of the inaugural inductees into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996, Robran was elevated to a legend five years later despite never playing in the VFL, choosing instead to dominate in his home state.
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He was the first South Australian to be named a Hall of Fame legend.
Robran kicked 194 goals for North Adelaide from 1967-80, won premierships in 1971-72 and is also in the club’s team of the century.
He was such a revered figure in South Australia that there’s a statue of Robran at the Adelaide Oval that serves as a permanent reminder of his standing.
Robran was an SA stalwart, played 17 state matches and served as an SA selector for 14 years.
AFL CEO, Andrew Dillon said there was little debate around who was SA’s best ever player
“This is a terribly sad day for South Australian football, as Barrie Robran was the outstanding player in a time when the game was built around state pride, and testing yourselves at a state level against the best from around the country,” Mr Dillon said.
“While fans in other states may argue over who were their best-ever players, that same debate has always been absent in Adelaide as any South Australian who saw Robran play simply defers to him as the greatest.”
North Adelaide president Kris Mooney said Robran was “more than just a footballer”.
“He was the embodiment of everything North Adelaide stands for – excellence, humility, and unwavering loyalty. His legacy will forever inspire us, and his quiet grace touched everyone he met,” he said in a statement.
“We are incredibly proud to call him one of our own.”
One of Robran’s sons, Matthew, was a dual-premiership player in 130 games for the Adelaide Crows, further cementing the family’s football legacy.
His niece, Jade, an Adelaide media personality, had to leave her morning radio show after being told the news of her father’s death on Wednesday.
Crows Chairman John Olsen wrote in a club statement: “Barrie’s contribution to our game was immense and more importantly, the manner in which he carried himself as a person both on and off the field leaves a lasting legacy.
“The collective thoughts of everyone at our Club are with Barrie’s family and friends.”
Originally published as AFL world mourning death of Barrie Robran, the first South Australian legend in the Hall of Fame
