Australian Football

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Key Facts

Full name
Robert Atkinson

Known as
Bob Atkinson

Nickname
Bomber

Born
29 October 1913

Died
25 December 2006 (aged 93)

Age at first & last AFL game
First game: 28y 199d
Last game: 30y 309d

Height and weight
Height: 173 cm
Weight: 80 kg

Senior clubs
Coburg; Carlton; Northcote

Jumper numbers
Carlton: 9

Recruited from
Carlton (1946); Coburg (1947)

Family links
Ted Atkinson (Brother)John Atkinson (Son)

Bob Atkinson

ClubLeagueCareer spanGamesGoalsAvgWin %AKIAHBAMKBV
CoburgVFA1935-1941, 1946
CarltonV/AFL1942-19444400.0068%0
NorthcoteVFA1947
VFA1935-1941, 1946-1947
V/AFL1942-19444400.0068%0
Total1935-1944, 1946-19474400.00

AFL: 5,027th player to appear, 4,600th most games played, 11,401st most goals kickedCarlton: 564th player to appear, 365th most games played, 1,101st most goals kicked

Recruited from South Camberwell, Bob "Bomber" Atkinson made a name for himself as a tough defender with VFA side Coburg. Atkinson captained Coburg in the 1941 Grand Final loss to Port Melbourne but when the war forced the VFA into recess after that season, he was granted a permit to play for Carlton.

He quickly established himself as a regular, and impressed to the point of being appointed the Blues' captain after injury forced Jim Francis into retirement. Under his leadership the club fell just half a game short of a place in the finals (despite boasting the season's second best percentage) and when the 1945 season dawned, the VFA had resumed competition with Atkinson back at the helm at Coburg. The Lions had a very good home and away season but missed the 1945 Grand Final after being knocked out in "straight sets" by Williamstown and Port Melbourne.

Atkinson retired at the end of the 1946 season but was persuaded to spend one final playing year at the struggling Northcote, where he was vice-captain and then captain after incumbent skipper Norman Dickson was injured mid-season.

Author - Andrew Gigacz


Footnotes

* Behinds calculated from the 1965 season on.
+ Score at the end of extra time.