WA football legend Austin Robertson Jnr dies at age 80

Western Australia has lost a footy legend after Austin Robertson Jnr died at the age of 80.

Robertson, widely regarded as WA's greatest-ever footballer, is the WAFL's all-time leading goalscorer after booting 1211 majors during his sparkling career for Subiaco.

The star forward won the Bernie Naylor Medal eight times as the WAFL's leading goalkicker, averaging 4.83 goals per game during his time at the Lions.

Robertson's feats in the 1960s and 70s were so amazing that fellow great Graham Farmer even regarded him as the finest full-forward in Australia at the time.

The man nicknamed 'Ocker' won a premiership with Subiaco in 1973 and played a season with VFL club South Melbourne in 1966, booting 60 goals in 18 games during his short stint in Victoria.

Robertson, who was renowned for his accurate set shots on goal, was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2015.

Earlier this year, Robertson told the ABC he suspected he was suffering from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), and wanted to donate his brain to science once he died.

CTE can only be diagnosed post-mortem. 

"I used to get whacked on the head every week. Probably between 10 and 15 times, you'd get a smack on the back of the head which I'm sure wasn't doing any good," Robertson said in May.

"You could deliberately line up a bloke who's got his eye on the ball running towards you … and you could get your shoulder all ready.

"In my day, it was quite deliberate and legal to iron the bloke out.

"And when the bloke got ironed out, of course the crowd roared. It was like, not quite, gladiatorial Rome."

During that interview, Robertson called for players to wear helmets to protect them from brain injuries. 

After his career finished in 1974, Robertson played a key role in presenting the concept of World Series Cricket to Kerry Packer and helped get it up and running.

He also managed many of Australia's leading cricketers, including Shane Warne, over a period of 30 years.

License this article

What is AAPNews?

For the first time, Australian Associated Press is delivering news straight to the consumer.

No ads. No spin. News straight-up.

Not only do you get to enjoy high-quality news delivered straight to your desktop or device, you do so in the knowledge you are supporting media diversity in Australia.

AAP Is Australia’s only independent newswire service, free from political and commercial influence, producing fact-based public interest journalism across a range of topics including politics, courts, sport, finance and entertainment.

What is AAPNews?
The Morning Wire

Wake up to AAPNews’ morning news bulletin delivered straight to your inbox or mobile device, bringing you up to speed with all that has happened overnight at home and abroad, as well as setting you up what the day has in store.

AAPNews Morning Wire
AAPNews Breaking News
Breaking News

Be the first to know when major breaking news happens.


Notifications will be sent to your device whenever a big story breaks, ensuring you are never in the dark when the talking points happen.

Focused Content

Enjoy the best of AAP’s specialised Topics in Focus. AAP has reporters dedicated to bringing you hard news and feature content across a range of specialised topics including Environment, Agriculture, Future Economies, Arts and Refugee Issues.

AAPNews Focussed Content
Subscription Plans

Choose the plan that best fits your needs. AAPNews offers two basic subscriptions, all billed monthly.

Once you sign up, you will have seven days to test out the service before being billed.

AAPNews Full Access Plan
Full Access
AU$10
  • Enjoy all that AAPNews has to offer
  • Access to breaking news notifications and bulletins
  • Includes access to all AAPNews’ specialised topics
Join Now
AAPNews Student Access Plan
Student Access
AU$5
  • Gain access via a verified student email account
  • Enjoy all the benefits of the ‘Full Access’ plan at a reduced rate
  • Subscription renews each month
Join Now
AAPNews Annual Access Plan
Annual Access
AU$99
  • All the benefits of the 'Full Access' subscription at a discounted rate
  • Subscription automatically renews after 12 months
Join Now

AAPNews also offers enterprise deals for businesses so you can provide an AAPNews account for your team, organisation or customers. Click here to contact AAP to sign-up your business today.

SEVEN DAYS FREE
Download the app
Download AAPNews on the App StoreDownload AAPNews on the Google Play Store