Russell Robertson

DOB: 24 November, 1978
Debut: Round 20, 1997 against West Coast at WACA
Last Game: Round 22, 2009 against St. Kilda at MCG

Games: 228
Goals: 428
Career Statistics (external link)

Wins	Draws	Losses	Winning %
105	1	122	46.05

From: Burnie Dockers/Tasmania U18, Selection 35, 1996 Rookie Draft

Number: 42 1997, 24 1998-2009

Honours:
Best and Fairest - 2003
Leading Goalkicker - 2001, 2005, 2007, 2009
Rising Star nominee - Round 14, 1998
Grand Final team - 2000
Mark of the Year nominee - Round 18, 2001, Round 21, 2001, Round 13, 2002, Round 20, 2002, Round 4, 2003, Round 5, 2005, Round 22, 2007, Round 5, 2008
Goal of the Year nominee - Round 6, 2001, Round 1, 2007
Australian International Rules player - 2005
Reserves Leading Goalkicker - 1997, 1999

First spotted by the club on a Footy Show "Almost Football Legends" video from his time at Burnie, Robertson was picked up as a speculative late draft pick at the end of the 1996 season. He was then delisted and re-drafted onto the newly created rookie list.

Promoted to the senior list to replace the retired Dean Irving, Robertson debuted towards the end of the disappointing 1997 season it wasn't until 1998 that he cemented his spot in an emerging forward line. He earned himself a Rising Star nomination in Round 14 with four goals in a shock win over the Eagles in Perth.

Early in 2002 Robertson was dropped to the VFL for three games, but bounced back to play 21 games for the year, including three finals - where he kicked 32 goals. He signed a two year contract extension at the end of that year.

In 2003 he won the Best and Fairest award after playing most of the year as an undersized key-position forward in an often disappointing side. He played every game that year, and only three times won less than ten possessions. Upon receiving the award he revealed that he had consulted the team psychologist about his turbulent form.

His form fell away in 2004, and he failed to finish in the top ten of the best and fairest. Despite that, at the end of the year Robertson signed a three year contract.

2005 was his best year, highlighted with a match winning seven goals in the Round 21 one point win against Geelong which saved Melbourne's season for oblivion. He booted 73.30 that year to finish third in the Coleman Medal, and was unlucky not to be selected as an All Australian.

2006 saw his year interrupted with soft tissue injuries, and in Round 2, 2007 he injured his knee against Hawthorn and missed several weeks of football. Despite this he still won the club goalkicking for the third time in a disappointing side, and signed a new contract to the end of 2009.

His 2008 season was destroyed by a snapped achilles tendon in the Round 10 clash against St. Kilda. The resulting rehabilitation ruined his pre-season and meant he didn't play a senior game until Round 6. His return of 29 goals in 13 games was more than respectable, especially considering he had two stints in the VFL with Casey after being dropped.

On 20 August 2009 Robertson announced that he and the Demons would part company at the end of the season but hoped to continue his career elsewhere. Fittingly his last act in a Melbourne jumper, with three seconds left on the clock in Round 22, 2009 was to attempt to pull down a trademark hanger.

Robertson ended his career with Melbourne as the third highest goalkicker in club history, only behind greats David Neitz and Norm Smith.

Despite announcing that he was keen to continue his career, Robertson was overlooked in the drafts and signed for the Shepparton Swans in 2010.

On February 2008 Robbo was a contestant on Celebrity Deal or No Deal but won just $1. He also appeared on celebrity reality show "It Takes Two" and Channel 9's "20 to 1" before releasing an album entitled Higher with songs he performed on the show, and duets with Kate Ceberano. In 2008 Robertson was the face of Jeff Banks suits.

After his retirement Robertson joined the Shepparton Swans where he kicked a hundred goals in 2010. He was appointed playing coach for Geelong Football League side St Joseph's for 2011 but resigned early in the season citing abuse from supporters before returning to the job where he remained in 2012, a year in which he also played some matches for Burnie in the Tasmanian league.

Year	Games	Goals	Brownlow
1997	3	5	0
1998	16	15	0
1999	13	11	0
2000	25	44	1
2001	22	42	3
2002	21	32	0
2003	22	41	2
2004	22	30	2
2005	23	73	3
2006	23	44	3
2007	15	42	3
2008	10	20	0
2009	13	29	0