By Peter Owen
RODNEY Robran, a member of one of Adelaide’s most famous AFL families, never quite brought the talent he displayed on the football field to the fairways of Noosa Springs in the 50-odd rounds he’d played there over the past five years.
Not, that is, until he lined up last week for this year’s Peter Millar A, B and C Grade Championship, one of Noosa Springs Golf and Spa Resort’s premier events.
Showing levels of skill, concentration and consistency that he was hardly aware he possessed, Rodney put together stableford scores of 36, 37 and 43 over three rounds to streak away for a 10-point victory in an event he’d competed in for the last five years.
“The previous best score I’d ever had in any single round was 32 points,” said Rodney, 70, who has lived on the Gold Coast for the past 26 years.
“I hadn’t played much golf leading up to the A, B and C championship – just a round at Bargara and a bucket of balls at Palm Meadows – and maybe that made the difference,” he said.
“I just played really well, kept the ball on the fairway and made a few putts. And on the final day, well, it was just one of those days. I found myself one-over-par after eight holes.”
From 1970 to 1983, Rodney was a star AFL footballer with North Adelaide, playing in the club’s 1972 premiership team, winning the 1976 best and fairest award, and captaining the side in 1980 and 1981. In all, he played 184 senior games and kicked 312 goals.
His elder brother Barrie Robran has been described as the most gifted footballer to have ever played the game. He won three Magarey Medals, seven straight best and fairest awards during a 201-game career with North Adelaide, and represented South Australia 17 times. In 2001 he was given Legend status by the AFL – the only player so honoured without having played in Melbourne.
Rodney’s nephews, Matthew and Jonathon were also outstanding footballers, Matthew representing Hawthorn and Adelaide, and Jonathon playing for Hawthorn and Essendon.
