‘Robbo’ played in the top Brunswick Mens A grade team over a 20 year period from 1963 to 1982 in some 345 games. If the Club did select a ‘Team of the Century’ then ‘Robbo’ would have to be one of the first selected. He was right up there with the best players to ever play at Brunswick over the past century.

Peter was diagnosed with prostate cancer some 15 years ago around the age of 60 and through effective treatment went into a long remission. Sadly, the cancer was the eventual cause of Peters death this week at age 75.

The Brunswick ‘little number 4 champ’ was only short in stature and slightly built, but quick and strong for his size. He was a Brunswick A Grade captain and a playing coach and duel Best and Fairest winner from 1978 and 1980. He had an ambition to play for Australia in seniors, though through a very strong era in Australia hockey at that time he didn’t achieve that.

Players of his era would comment about his fitness, training, game preparation and his professionalism. He had all round solid skills that made him very reliable along with his good decision making. He was a role model to younger players and a mentor, freely passing on his advice and experience. I remember as a teenager coming in to the A Grade Squad that Robbo, then in his 30’s would just take you aside at the end of training and give you some tips on things he had observed and how you could improve parts of your game.

After his 345 A Grade games, Robbo dropped down to play Pennant seconds. Then in 1984 when in his late 30’s, he played in the Brunswick thirds Metro team where he would control the game playing at Centre Half. The team ended up playing off in the Grand Final that year. The game went into extra time and then on to a penalty shootout. Robbo calmly put his penalty into the back of the net along with four of his teammates for Brunswick to bring home another flag.

Robbo did go on the play veteran’s hockey for Victoria and eventually realised his boyhood dream of representing Australia, at the Masters level.

I know the vast majority of the current Club members would never have heard of Peter Robertson. He did come back to the Club a handful of times in the past decades for certain events including the opening of the new ground and Legends games. I have included some photographs and articles of ‘Robbo’ and it would great to get some memories in the form of replies on social media to share with us all from those that do remember Peter’s time at Brunswick. I am hoping the Brunswick teams can wear black armbands in next week’s round as a sign of respect and take a minute to reflect on the ‘little number 4 champ’ in Peter Robbo. May he inspire your hockey game!

- Noel Turner, Club Historian