Australian Football

Robbie West was a dynamic small midfielder who was drafted by West Coast in 1990, which was before he had made his senior debut with his original club, West Perth. He ended up debuting with both the Falcons and the Eagles in 1991. Although he struggled at AFL level he excelled in the WAFL, winning a Sandover Medal and club fairest and best award in 1992, representing Western Australia twice at state league level, and helping his team to a premiership in 1993. All told he played 47 games and scored 46 goals for West Perth whilst undertaking a parallel career in the AFL which saw him make 13 appearances and kick one goal for the Eagles over three seasons.

West crossed to Footscray in 1994 but struggled to have an impact, and after playing just seven matches and kicking one goal for the year he left the AFL scene behind. The 1995 season found him playing, and playing superbly, for Port Adelaide in the SANFL. In a stellar debut campaign with the Magpies he won his club’s best and fairest award and starred in the 13.16 to 6.10 grand final defeat of Central District. Then, prior to the 1996 season, disaster struck, as West was the victim of a horrendous physical assault which left him fighting for his life. Miraculously, he managed to return to the football field with Port in 1997, adding seven senior appearances to the 25 made in 1995. All told, he registered 38 goals. But the statistics should not deflect attention from his remarkable courage, not just on the football field, but much more tellingly off it.

Author - John Devaney