In Jim Main's series, 'Swan Songs', this week he talks to former specialist back pocket, Ian Roberts...
Ian Roberts
Born: April 3, 1957
Played: 1979-91
Games: 157
Goals: 33
Courageous defender Ian Roberts lived a childhood dream in playing for the Swans.
He spent the first eight years of his life in Albert Park - just a couple of drop kicks from the Lake Oval - and naturally, grew up following the local club - South Melbourne.
When his policeman father was transferred about 30 kilometres away, to the outer Melbourne bayside suburb of Frankston, Roberts continued to follow the Swans. After impressing with Mornington Peninsula club Rosebud and then VFA (now VFL) club Frankston, he had an incredibly lucky break.
The Mornington Peninsula had been zoned to Hawthorn (champion Hawk defender Chris Mew had been recruited from Rosebud) but, in 1978, the area was handed to the Swans - for just one year.
Roberts had made a huge impression playing for Frankston in that year’s losing Grand Final against Camberwell, and the Swans swooped.
Roberts recalled: “That Grand Final was the roughest, toughest game I ever played in. They were throwing punches even before the first bounce and there were spot-fights everywhere.”
Although Roberts started his Swans career as a winger, he eventually gravitated to a half-back flank and then to the back pocket.
“In that era, clubs liked playing two smallish players on the half-forward flanks, so I invariably picked up one of these players,” Roberts explained.
“Then, when Tommy Hafey was coach in 1986, I realised my chances in that position were limited because Bernard Toohey had joined the Swans from Geelong and he and Mark Browning were natural half-back flankers.
“Hafey therefore asked me where I wanted to play and I suggested the back pocket because David Ackerly, who previously held that position against the ‘smalls’, had gone to North Melbourne.”
Roberts was so impressive on the last line of defence that he became regarded as one of the best specialist back pockets in the competition.
Tough and utterly reliable, Roberts early in the 1987 season was nominated as the player most likely to get the back pocket nod from Victorian State of Origin selectors, only for bad luck to intervene.
Roberts was crashed to the turf in an Anzac Day game against Richmond at the MCG and was rushed to hospital with broken ribs and internal bleeding.
He returned to action 13 weeks later and, despite being as courageous as ever, his State of Origin chance had disappeared.
Roberts played in weak Swans sides early in his career but then in strong sides in the mid-’80s and even now is in awe of the talent of teammates.
“Everywhere I turned I ran into Brownlow Medal winners,” he said. “In my first year I played with Len Thompson (who had won his Brownlow with Collingwood) and also with Graeme Teasdale. Later, I played alongside Gerard Healy and Greg Williams.”
Roberts, who also played District cricket as a batsman with South Melbourne (with a highest score of 85 not out), retired in 1991 and spent 18 months out of the game before making a comeback in the Sydney competition.
“Robbie Kerr (who played with North Melbourne and the Swans) was coaching East Sydney and invited me to help out with the younger players,” Roberts said.
“I spent four and a half years with them before I decided I was getting too old and therefore gave it away.”
Roberts, obviously a Swan supporter for life, still lives in Sydney, works as a tally clerk on the wharves and goes to as many Swan games as possible.
“It’s always great to see them play and I like catching up with former teammates at games. I am soon catching up at lunch with Rod Carter, Steve Taubert and David Murphy.”
Although Roberts never won a Swan best and fairest, it would be fair to say not too many others who played in the red and white showed more on-field courage or committed himself so wholly to the club.
