Australian Football

Somewhat diminutive in stature at only 171 cm, Robertson, perhaps not surprisingly, played mostly as a rover, although he could also provide more than solid service across half forward or at the goalfront. A regular member of metropolitan and state representative teams, Ralph Robertson, who was once described as "one of the most scientific footballers in the state"¹, represented New South Wales with distinction at each of the first three interstate carnivals, winning a Referee Medal as his state's best player at Sydney in 1914. His tally of 30 interstate appearances for New South Wales has been bettered only once.

In 1909, after six seasons with East Sydney, Robertson transferred to North Shore, and enjoyed the immediate satisfaction of participating in another premiership team. He was still at the top of his game when he signed up for active war service in 1914. He died after a mid-air collision while piloting a single-seater fighter plane over Egypt in May 1917.

In 2003, Ralph Robertson was named as one of 10 inaugural members of the official Sydney AFL Hall of Fame.

Note: This biography has been adapted from an article by Ian Granland

Author - John Devaney