Australian Rules Legend Barrie Robran Dies at 77

Australian football Hall of Fame Legend and arguably South Australia’s greatest footballer, Barrie Robran, has passed away at 77 years of age.

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, winning three Magarey Medals and seven best and fairest awards for North Adelaide.

Robran played 201 games for North Adelaide between 1967-1980 and led the club to back-to-back SANFL premierships in 1971 and 1972. He also represented South Australia on 17 occasions, including as captain in 1974.

His Australian Football Hall of Fame citation describes him as “the best player never to play at AFL level”, and a statue of him can be found outside Adelaide Oval.

Chairman of the SA Football Commission Rob Kerin today paid tribute to Robran, saying ““Barrie was a champion of our game and has left an indelible mark on football in South Australia through his on-field brilliance”.

AFL CEO Andrew Dillon said, “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”.

North Adelaide president Kris Mooney said Robran “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”.