AFL legend Barrie Robran dies aged 77
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.
The Barry Robran statue at Adelaide Oval. Picture: Jason Hywood
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.'
Robran takes a mark in the SANFL in 1973. Picture: Ray Titus
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.
Read related topics: Adelaide
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
News.com.au
2 hours ago
- News.com.au
Darryl Hewitt tackles Lightning Stakes with determined winner Sir Now at Morphettville
Sir Now savaged the line for a fourth straight win last start, and Darryl Hewitt 's tough sprinter doesn't like settling for second place. A determined will to win has him chasing a fifth consecutive win at Morphettville on Saturday, this time at Listed level in the Lightning Stakes (1050m). A deluge of rain across Adelaide has runners likely to encounter a heavy track for Saturday's nine-race card, and rain, hail or shine, you can trust Sir Now will be hunting the line late. 'He's hard work, that will to win is competitiveness,' Hewitt, a former SANFL footballer of over 200 games, said. 'On the footy field, you want to fight to get the ball, he's much the same, he's very competitive, he wants to get to the front. 'Maggie (Collett) said she got goosebumps the last 100m (last start) because he just flattened out and attacked the horse rather than the line.' Sir Now, a son of Sir Prancelot, flew home inside the final 100m to deny Lindsay Park galloper, Beast Mode, in a Benchmark 80 (1000m) on the Parks circuit on June 28. 'They put two or three lengths on the third horse, it wasn't like Beast Mode was stopping greatly,' he said. '(Beast Mode) ran well next start, finished fourth at Flemington last Saturday – so the form stacks up.' • SA premiership-winning trainers to split Freshened, four weeks between runs, Hewitt is pleased with his three-year-old ahead of a stakes tilt, but admits keeping the fiery customer ticking over has been a challenge. 'He came through it good, the only trouble is we've had four weeks off between runs – he's a fairly active horse,' he said. 'It wasn't much good putting him out for a week in the paddock because he's that well he would probably hurt himself. 'I've had to monitor him in the box for the last four weeks and keep him ticking over, hopefully he's still right enough to go tomorrow. 'I would have liked to have had a three-year-old lead-up race, but there was only a (Benchmark) 66 and he would've got 68kg or something.' A heavy track won't concern Hewitt, Sir Now has won five of seven career wins on rain-affected circuits, including a win on heavy ground. Sir Now just keeps on winning! ðŸ'¥ Darryl Hewitt's 3YO gelding comes from a long way back & was four-wide at the turn to show an electric turn of foot late to salute for the fourth time in a row 😤 — (@Racing) June 28, 2025 The gelding, who will be piloted again by Maggie Collett, has earnt his chance at stakes level, but it's been no mean feat getting there. 'I'm sort of counting on the heavy, being a wide draw (11), it might even suit being wide,' Hewitt said. 'It (Lightning) was never really on the radar, with this horse, it's one race at a time. 'He can be a handful, he can dump a rider here and there, you don't know whether he's going to do a lap or two with no rider. 'Maggie, she's not scared of him, he can put the wind up jockeys.' Hewitt also has stakes-winning gelding, Snoopy Now, ready to fire in a Benchmark 72 over a mile, with Connor Murtagh booked to ride. 'We've put the work into him again for the 1600m and he's bouncing around,' he said. 'He ran second in the Sires' Produce on a heavy last year to Colmar – he'll handle it all right too.'
Perth Now
2 hours ago
- Perth Now
Focus turns to big Bomber after Crows re-sign ruck star
Adelaide ruckman Reilly O'Brien has re-signed with the Crows for a further three years, leaving Brisbane in the box seat to snare star Essendon big man Sam Draper. O'Brien was set to become an unrestricted free agent at season's end, and contract negotiations with Adelaide stalled earlier this year after he was reportedly only offered a two-year extension. Further complicating matters was the fact Adelaide were in the hunt to sign Draper, who hails from South Australia. Draper, who is sidelined with an achilles tendon injury, is an unrestricted free agent and is weighing up his options. Brisbane are now considered the frontrunners to land the 26-year-old on what's believed to be a five-year deal. Essendon are believed to have a four-year deal on the table for Draper, with a trigger for a fifth year. O'Brien has enjoyed one of his best seasons of his 10-year career and currently leads the AFL in total hitouts (700) this season. The 29-year-old is averaging 38.9 hitouts per game in 2025, and has played a key role in helping Adelaide (13-5) surge into third spot. O'Brien again looms as a key figure in Saturday night's Showdown against Port Adelaide. "Adelaide has become my home over the past 10, 11 years and I couldn't see myself anywhere else," O'Brien said. "I love this club, this city and this state. "I'm so proud of how far this group has come over the past few years, and I am very excited and feel very privileged to be a part of this group moving forward." Adelaide haven't reached the finals since playing off in the grand final in 2017, but are almost certain to end that drought this season. A four-match winning streak has left the Crows just a win off top spot, and after taking on the Power, Adelaide end their campaign with games against Hawthorn (home), West Coast (away), Collingwood (home) and North Melbourne (away). Port Adelaide (8-10) are already out of the finals race, but could thwart Adelaide's top-four hopes with an upset win on Saturday night. The Crows announced on Friday that Isaac Cumming had been ruled out of the Showdown with lower leg soreness. He has been replaced in the side by Brayden Cook. Port Adelaide welcome back captain Connor Rozee from a fractured hand, while forwards Joe Berry and Jed McEntee have also been added. Mani Liddy, Will Lorenz and Dylan Williams were all dropped from the side that suffered a 38-point loss to Hawthorn last week. Port recruit Jack Lukosius has been named for his first Showdown, while Travis Boak plays his 383rd AFL game, drawing level with Robert Harvey in equal seventh position on the VFL/AFL games played list.
Sky News AU
7 hours ago
- Sky News AU
Mitchell explains shock Newcombe substitution in Hawks win
Travel and the importance of Hawthorn's upcoming clash with Adelaide was behind coach Sam Mitchell removing star Jai Newcombe from Thursday night's game. Newcombe was forced to pass a fitness test on Wednesday and was substituted out of Hawthorn's 24-point win over Carlton at the MCG. But Mitchell said Newcombe's calf was completely fine and was taken out of the match with one eye on the Crows next week. Hawthorn and Adelaide played a thriller in Launceston earlier this year and only percentage separates them in third and fourth. '(Newcombe) had a bit of a tight calf, we had a five-day break, he did a fitness test before the captain's run yesterday and passed that so he was no worries,' Mitchell said. 'We've got travel, we go over to Adelaide on Friday night next week, it's obviously going to be a massive game for us and them as well. 'That's the game we want our players fresh and ready, and if we've got the chance to take Jai out and get some game time into others, him a freshen up, we thought that was a win. 'He could've kept playing, I actually asked him, got on the phone with him and said, 'How are you feeling mate?' And he goes, 'Yeah that might not be a bad idea'. 'He will certainly play next week, he'll be fine.' The decision to sub Newcombe was softened by the return of Will Day. Day had 15 disposals in limited game time, showing glimpses of the early-season form that catapulted him to Brownlow Medal discussions. 'The first four or five games of the season was when he went out and they tagged him in his first game back so that just shows how Carlton feel about him,' Mitchell said. '70 per cent game time was the marker and I think he finished on 69, we're really pleased we were able to get him through the game. 'He plays the game in a certain way, I think everyone likes the way Will Day plays especially because he's probably not built for playing it like that. 'I think sometimes he's got a loveable demeanour about him, he did a couple of things tonight where you're like, 'Oh yeah, there it is'. 'He will obviously be better for playing the game.' Originally published as Hawthorn star Jai Newcombe was subbed off the MCG out of caution with more big games ahead
