Rodney Robran

TB- Thanks for your time Rodney, what are you doing with yourself these days?

RR- I have been living on the Gold Coast for the last 13 years and have business interests in Management Rights including a couple of holiday rental complexes. I now live on Ephraim Island at Paradise Point with my partner Deb.

TB- Sport must have played a huge part in your life growing up in Whyalla, you and Barrie must have spent hundreds of hours kicking the footy, playing cricket etc with each other?

RR- Sport was a huge part of our lives, growing up in Whyalla we rarely missed an afternoon and evening in our school days playing football, sock football, cricket, marbles and riding our bikes. You name it we did it along with most of the other kids in the neighbourhood.

TB- Who were your sporting heroes while you were growing up?

RR- I really had no sporting heroes in my young days but had great admiration for Barrie because of his dedication with extra training etc. He worked hard to become the champion that he was.

TB- Did you always barrack for North and have an ambition to come to Adelaide and play for the Roosters?

RR- I was always a North Adelaide supporter and so was the rest of my family. I always wanted to play for them if ever the opportunity arose and I was invited.

TB- You played 3 games for North in 1970 but played most of the year for North Whyalla winning the Whyalla News medal .Do you remember your first league game?

RR- I clearly remember my first league game as if it were yesterday, we played against West Torrens at Prospect oval. I kicked 3 goals from a half forward flank and was fortunate enough to receive one Magarey medal vote on the day.

TB- I also read that in 1970 North Whyalla kicked a then South Australian record equalling score of 57.50 against Weeroona Bay. That day must have good memories for you personally, I see that you kicked a lazy 23 goals in that game!    

RR- North Whyalla had a good side back in 1970. Weeroona Bay was a new side in the Whyalla league and was very undermanned. Kicking 23 goals that day was a great memory and still is.

TB- I’m guessing you came to live permanently in 1971 as you played 19 games and kicked 36 goals for North but didn’t play in the winning Grand Final. Why is that, were you injured?

RR- Unfortunately I did not play in the 1971 winning Grand Final due to injury. I was injured in the last 30 seconds of the final minor round game and missed all the finals.

TB- Things turned out better for you in 1972, you were part of North’s second successive premiership against Port Adelaide. Is it right that Terry Collins was a late withdrawal due to a broken blood vessel and you took his place?

RR- I did play in the 1972 winning Grand Final playing at centre half forward. I was originally named on the bench but when Terry Collins withdrew due to injury I was named in the starting eighteen.

TB- To win back-to-back premierships especially against Port Adelaide was huge, the celebrations must have been big, do you remember the after match festivities well?

RR- To win 2 Grand Finals in a row was fantastic for everyone connected with the NAFC. Celebrations were probably not as big back then as they are today and I was only 19 years old at the time so I probably didn’t appreciate the win as much as if I would have had I been that bit older.

TB- Mike Patterson seemed to be ahead of his time with his coaching methods, he must have been a sensational coach?

RR- Patto was my first coach at North and he was certainly a great coach.

TB- I read a quote from Patto about the North team saying “The players think, work, act and react as friends not just team mates”. Prospect oval must have been an enjoyable place to be in those great days?

RR- The early 70’s was a fantastic era at North and the atmosphere around the club was always electrifying.   

TB- Do you still keep in touch with any of your old team mates?

RR- Yes I do stay in touch with quite a few of my team mates and it is always good to catch up with them and talk about old times.

TB- Did you ever receive any offers to cross the border and play in the VFL?

RR- No, I had no direct offers from clubs over the border.

TB- Yourself, Barrie and sister Julie all suffered some terrible injuries during your respective careers, is it true you all injured the same knee?

RR- Unfortunately Barrie, Julie and myself have each suffered with very bad knee injuries. Barrie and myself the left knee and Julie the right one.

TB- Do you follow any particular team in the AFL ?

RR- I have not followed any specific AFL side but always followed the careers of  Matthew and Jonathon Robran and supported their teams when they were playing.

TB- What’s your opinion of the way footy is played at AFL level these days?

RR- Footy at AFL level in my opinion is becoming too soft. I feel that the SANFL is producing a much tougher game and is more enjoyable to watch.

TB- You won the Best and Fairest and was voted NAFC person of the year in 1976, would you rate that as your best ever year personally in footy?

RR-  To win the Best and Fairest medal for a league club was a great honour and it was a great year for me although I don’t think anything in footy beats a Grand Final win.

TB- All up you played 184 games, kicked 312 goals, captained the club and played in a premiership, you would have to be happy with the service you gave North?   

RR- I was very happy with my career at North Adelaide. I have so many fond memories on and off the field and a lot of friendships built over those years.

TB- Any regrets at all?

RR- No regrets at all.

TB- Who were some of the characters you played with?

RR- You meet a lot of characters over the period of a football career but the biggest would have to be Jack Spry, you had no idea what he was going to get up to next. Some others were Bronte Mumford, Brenton Anderson and Mike Dozna just to name a few.

TB- Footy was pretty tough in the 70’s, who were some of your toughest opponents?

RR- Some of my toughest opponents back in the 70’s were Peter Woite (Port), Brenton Bills (West Torrens) and Frank Stemper (Woodville/Norwood).

TB- Living on the Gold Coast do you still keep an eye on how the Roosters are going?

RR- I still keep up with how North are going, I stay in touch on the internet checking the North Adelaide website every Monday morning. My mates always text me or call with the results after each game also.

TB- Once again thanks so much for your time Rodney, it’s been a real buzz to catch up with a North Adelaide legend!

RR- More than happy to help out, thanks Tony. 

rrobran