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 When Robbie Melville booted a hundred and twelve goals and won the Claremont District under 18’s fairest and best award despite only playing fourteen games, those with their ears to the ground at Tigerland took notice. Had they attended the last game of the season, when he collected nineteen majors, they would have been even more impressed.  But it was as a defender that Melville was to prove of value, not only to Claremont, but Western Australia.   The retirement of Wayne Harvey in 1970 had left the club bereft of a top class full forward, and when the stocky Melville walked into the club for pre season work in 1970, he was immediately groomed for the key position.After the obligatory season with the colts, the eighteen year old lined up with the league side at centre half forward on day one of the 1971 season. And minding him was another first gamer, East Fremantle’s Doug Green. “Doug toweled me up,” Robbie recalled wryly. Melville was given time to progress, playing also at full forward with six goals against South Fremantle his best return. Melville didn’t play in the 1972 grand final, a game that, according to Robbie, was won as much off the field as it was on it. “East Perth coach Malcolm Brown gave scribe Geoff Christian a concocted story about how hard the Royals were training,” he said. “Our coach Verdun Howell took note, and upped the work load, the hardest I can recall, while over at Perth Oval the East Perth boys were taking things easy.” “On game day we were jaded and it rained heavily.”The side that had lost just three games over the home and away games bowed out of the finals, losing the big one by fifteen points in a low scoring match.   The recruitment of Geoff Blethyn from Essendon in 1973 left coach Verdun Howell with the problem of what to do with Melville, who had shown plenty of promise as a goalsneak without actually setting the place on fire. The decision to try him in defence was a masterstroke and the turning point of Melville’s career.  Robbie Melville was a revelation in his new role, winning the club fairest and best award in 1974, and made his State debut the same year at half back at Subiaco Oval against Victoria in a tightly contested affair that the visitors won by seven points. Melville had discussions with four Victorian clubs during the Seventies, but in each case decided to remain with the Tigers. In 1974, along with Peter Spencer and Bruce Monteath, he was signed by Richmond.  In a rebuilding era for the Tigers, during which a number of young players, including Jimmy and Phil  Krakouer, Darrell Panizza, Allan Daniels, and many others, were blooded, Melville became an on field leader, where he was club vice captain to Graham Moss, and represented Western Australia once again in 1978, when the Sandgropers smashed the Croweaters in Adelaide by sixty nine points. In the match against Victoria the same year he was named in the best players when WA went down to Victoria by fourteen points. “I was there when Brownie made a point about the rules by sending John Colreavy back onto the ground,” Robbie said. “Mal could get very emotional about things he considered as wrongs, and the long standing rule about players coming off the ground not able to return was one of those. Colreavy had been on the sidelines for a short time when another player went down.”“Mal had no hesitation in sending John back onto the playing field, ignoring a distressed president, Wally Maskiel, who protested: “you can’t do that,” and received a barrage from the unhappy coach, as controversy raged.” Robbie recalls playing a State of Origin game against Victoria at Waverley Oval. “I was, and still am, a good mate of East Fremantle and Essendon player, Alan Reid, who was picked to play on a wing for WA,” he recalled. “He was playing on Robbie Flower.”“Alan later said that he only saw Flower twice during the afternoon. “To shake hands before the game began and after it finished.” WA got thrashed by ninety four points and Flower won the Norm Smith Medal as best on ground.  When Claremont returned to grand final action and won a flag in 1981 Melville was injured and wasn’t part of the winning side. This injury proved to be the catalyst for his subsequent retirement at the age of twenty eight, having played a hundred and fifty one league games. There was an approach from the media world for Robbie’s services on the airwaves (one that he would have been a natural for) but he declined.   Melville played a season with University Amateurs, and his performances there once again attracted the notice of Claremont and State selectors. Claremont were keen for him to come back, and he had assurances from the State selectors that he would have every opportunity of re- inclusion in the State squad. “I was focused on getting out of the game,” he commented. “I wanted to develop my business interests, and really didn’t have the time for football.”Previously a physical education teacher, Robbie went into the funds management industry, where these days he is a director of a funds management business based in Subiaco, and has previously sat on the boards of a number of companies throughout Asia. Involved in funds management for the past 25 years both in Australia and overseas, Robbie’s experience covers many different aspects of the funds management industry including capital raising, business development, product development, administration and public relations.Wife Meg is the Principal of Penrhos College in Como, and Robbie is a member of Cottesloe Golf Club. Rob and Meg have three boys; Andrew, Edward, and William, each of whom attended Scotch College and played both football and rugby union. Through the boys’ involvement in rugby union, Robbie has become a fan of the game, to the extent of becoming president of the Scotch College Rugby Union Club. “It’s interesting to look at the structure of both sports at the junior level, and how they are run,” he said. “The approach that union has to the rules in junior competition, allowing more physical contact than Australian Rules, where they are intent on keeping contact to a minimum, is well received by the kids. Football could learn a lot from rugby union. ” The Melvilles lived in Malaysia for five years, during which time Robbie established and played football with the Malaysian Tigers in an Asian Australian Rules competition.  When the Western Australian Football Commission called for nominations to fill commissioner vacancies last year, Robbie decided his overall experience and business background could be of use and nominated. A trained and experienced phys ed teacher, he has coached juniors, played State of Origin football, is a life member of Claremont Football Club, and has experience of capital markets throughout the world. He was unsuccessful, but it’s to be hoped he offers his services again.Chatting to Robbie Melville, you get the impression that here is someone who has offered his experience, knowledge, and considerable business nous, and it would be to the benefit of the game if the package was utilised.  He was recently approached by the Tigers to participate in a program mentoring their leadership group. The program brings together young players and successful business people, and he is enthusiastic about this wonderful initiative. Winning the inaugural Barry Cable medal for high achievement in football in 1978, winning the Tigers fairest and best in 1974 and playing state and state of origin football were his proudest achievements.Subiaco’s Ron Bayens(“challenging and a good athlete”) was the opponent Melville had most trouble with, although there were others, including Swans Gary Sidebottom(“strong and a great football brain”), Souths Joe McKay(“all arms and legs and a big left foot”) and Brownie(“a different class, strong and fearless”)The Krakoeurs, Jim and Phil, headed the list of teammates, but he used the word “phenomenal” to describe Kenny Hunter. “He took so many screamers over my head my back was full of scars from his boots for years.”“There are many who were impressive footballers,” he added. “Others  who stood out to me were Maurice Rioli and Stephen Michael. My favourite games in the late seventies/early eighties  were always the games against South at Fremantle Oval because of the quality of the opposition and the crowd noise and involvement. Interestingly Brownie was coach of South which always provided some extra spice. The 81 grand final stands out as one of the great grand finals because of the closeness of the sides and the quality of the players.”He described Subiaco rover, Keith Watt, a Hollywood High School schoolmate, “ Along with Denis Marshall the most naturally talented player I’ve seen.”Malcolm Brown once described Robbie Melville thus: “The most frustratingly talented player I’ve coached.”  Throw in a passion for the game and athletic ability and you have a close description of the man both on and off the field. He played a hundred and fifty one games for Claremont and five in the black and gold of Western Australia, and is an authority on the game.  

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