Debut: 2002

Career matches: 116

Career goals: 25

Matches: 0

Goals: 0

Kicks: 0

Marks: 0

Handballs: 0

Disposals: 0
Tackles: 0

Todd Viney’s season assessment
Robert had a slow start to the year with an achilles injury, but he played some outstanding football towards of the season in the VFL. He’s a premiership player, so he was highly respected among the group. His leadership had an impact among the younger players.

Round-by-round assessment
Comments made by 2011 Melbourne coaching staff members Mark Williams, Brad Gotch and Kelly O’Donnell

AFL: Round 1 v Sydney Swans
Did not play (played in VFL practice match)

VFL: Round 1 v Geelong
Injured: achilles

 

VFL: Round 2 v Port Melbourne
Injured: achilles

VFL: Round 3 v North Ballarat 
Injured: achilles

VFL: Round 4 - Bye
Injured: achilles

VFL: Round 5 - Frankston
Injured: achilles

VFL reserves: Round 6 v Northern Bullants
Rob got through a half, playing his first game for the season, which is really positive. He mightn’t take long to push up. He’s a quality player. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 7 v Bendigo Bombers
Injured: knee

VFL: Round 8 - Bye
Injured: knee

VFL: Round 9 v Williamstown
Injured: knee

VFL: Round 10 v Sandringham
Rob really only played fifty or sixty per cent, but he ended up with eleven possessions. He’s a good player. If we can get him injury free, he could be really handy. He’s clean with his hands, he knows how to use his body in the ruck, and he did some ripper taps to our boys, giving them first possession of the ball. I hope we can keep him up, because he’ll be a real beauty later on. I think he’d go forward and take a few catches, too, which would be nice. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 11 v Collingwood
Rob looked a bit proppy with his knee. He just kept going, and at times tackled and followed up. He did some really good things, so if he can get his body right, he’ll be a very good player. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 12 v Coburg Tigers
I thought that he and Angus Graham, the big ruckman from Richmond, had a good duel. Graham got him on the spread a bit, and I think Rob’s just a bit underdone. In the ruck contests, Rob did some really good stuff, so I thought he was OK. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 13 - Bye

VFL: Round 14 v Werribee Tigers  
Rob tried hard, but failed to make much impact either in the ruck or back. Brad Gotch

VFL reserves: Round 15 v Box Hill Hawks
Rob was one of the better players in the Reserves’ victory - again, a ruckman who dominated because there were so many stoppages and contests. He was involved a lot, and did really well. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 16 v Frankston

Rob worked really hard in the ruck, and made the most of the chance to be the main ruckman.  He did some great follow up work on the ground, and was the architect of a number of our goals. Brad Gotch

Rob’s ruck work was quite good. He gave first use to our ground level players, which we expected. But he had limited impact up forward. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 19 v Sandringham
Rob played in the ruck, and proved to be one of our most valuable players for this game. His work enabled many clearances, and his leadership to provide direction around the ground simply couldn’t be measured. He certainly played his part, and was very good. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 20 v Coburg Tigers
Rob was injured early in the second quarter. He started the game very well, but then knocked himself out trying to pressure an opposition player. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 21 v Werribee Tigers
Rob was very good. He had an enthralling duel with Hamish McIntosh and Majak Daw in the ruck. Rob had a big impact on the game. Some of his taps were outstanding, and his organisation at stoppage was first class. He positioned himself really well at times. Brad Gotch

VFL: Round 22 v Northern Bullants
Rob started back on Hampson, and made some strong defensive involvements before going into the midfield. Here, he had a big impact with his ruck work and follow up ground ball efforts. Brad Gotch

VFL: Qualifying final v Port Melbourne  
Injured: back

 

Rob’s been a valuable contributor all year, but on this occasion he lacked his normal influence, and really just failed to impact. However, he never gave up, and his determination was, as always, a credit to him. Kelly O'Donnell