Bob Skilton
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
| Personal Info | |
|---|---|
| Birth | 8 November 1938, |
| Recruited from | South Melbourne Under 19s
|
| Playing Career¹ | |
| Debut | 12 May 1956, South Melbourne vs. Footscray, at Western Oval |
| Team(s) | South Melbourne (1956-1971)
238 games, 403 goals |
| Coaching Career¹ | |
| Team(s) | South Melbourne 1965-1966, Melbourne 1974-1977 |
| ¹ Statistics to end of 2005 season | |
| Career Highlights | |
|
|
Bob Skilton (born November 8, 1938) was an Australian rules football player who played as a rover for South Melbourne and Victoria between 1956 and 1971. He was one of only 4 players to have won the Brownlow Medal three times - in 1959 (tied with Verdun Howell), 1963 and 1968 - and was rated by Jack Dyer as better than Haydn Bunton and equal to Dick Reynolds, making him one of the best players in the history of the game.
Skilton made his senior debut at the age of 17 in round five, 1956 and went on to play 237 matches for the 'Bloods' before he retired in 1971, at the time a club record. He scored 412 goals in that time and was the club's leading goalkicker on three occasions. Nicknamed 'Chimp', he showed great grit and determination and became well known for giving maximum effort at all times.
Only 173 cm tall, Skilton was particularly fast and a superb baulker, allowing him to avoid opponents when necessary. He was never shy of attacking the ball, however, and in his 16 year career suffered many injuries, including concussion, a broken nose four times, a broken wrist three times and 12 black eyes. It was in fact his appearance on the front page of The Sun News-Pictorial with two black eyes in 1968 that earned him the Douglas Wilkie Medal.
One of his greatest assets was the ability to kick with both feet, a skill learned at the insistence of his father Bob Skilton senior, a track and field athlete, and developed by spending hours kicking the ball against a wall, collecting it on the rebound and kicking again with the other foot. It was impossible to say whether he was right or left footed, since his left foot gave greater accuracy, but his right greater distance. He had arguably the most accurate stab kick in the game. The stab kick has now all but disappeared.
Chosen to represent his state in 25 games, Skilton captained the Victorian team in 1963 and 1965. The downside of his career was the lack of success of his club. He often said that he would trade any of his three Brownlow Medals for a Premiership or even the chance to play in a Grand Final, and felt the highest point of his career was the one occasion South Melbourne made the finals in 1970 (under the great Norm Smith), finishing fourth after losing the first semi-final against St Kilda.
After 16 years at South Melbourne, including two years as playing coach in 1965-66 and 9 club best and fairest awards, Skilton then played for his boyhood team, Port Melbourne in the VFA and later coached Melbourne from 1974-77, with a best finish of sixth. Since then, Skilton has been honoured by being named captain of the Swans' team of the century, and named in the AFL team of the century. He was also the player featured inside the cover of the booklets of stamps featuring the Swans released by Australia Post to commemorate the centenary of the VFL/AFL.
Skilton made an speech in the post-match presentations of the 2005 AFL Grand Final following his team's first win in 72 years.
[edit] References
- Ken Piesse (1995). The Complete Guide to Australian Football. Pan Macmillan Australia. ISBN 0-330-35712-3.
- 1956 AFL season details
- List of Melbourne Football Club coaches
- List of Brownlow Medal winners
| Preceded by Neil Roberts |
Brownlow Medallist (tied) 1959 |
Succeeded by John Schultz |
| Preceded by Alistair Lord |
Brownlow Medallist 1963 |
Succeeded by Gordon Collis |
| Preceded by Ross Smith |
Brownlow Medallist 1968 |
Succeeded by Kevin Murray |
