Details have emerged of Tony Lockett’s severely stylish act for St Kilda legend Neil Roberts on the membership’s 150-year celebrations on the weekend.
The Saints celebrated 150 years of existence earlier than their Round 3 match in opposition to Essendon on the MCG, which they gained by 18 factors.
Several membership icons had been current together with 89-year-old Roberts, who gained the 1958 Brownlow Medal and performed 169 video games for St Kilda from 1952-1962.
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Lockett was there too, as was Nicky Winmar and the household of the late Danny Frawley, whereas Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo had been inducted into St Kilda’s Hall of Fame.
But Roberts wouldn’t have made it out on to the MCG if it wasn’t for Lockett.
Roberts’ son Michael recounted on Triple M how Lockett went out of his strategy to wrap his arms round Roberts, stroll with him from the pre-game operate room via the bowels of the MCG, up the tunnel and onto the sphere for the pre-game ceremony.
“He’s nearly 90; the oldest living Brownlow medallist going around,” Michael Roberts stated.
“He was sitting with Carl Ditterich in the room, so he had all the ’66 boys (1966 St Kilda premiership team) – it was fantastic to see them.
“And then ‘Joey’ (Leigh Montagna) had all his mates … and all the ’80 blokes, so it was generational and really emotional. And all the wives and the partners were there as well.
“So, the old man’s sitting there with Ditterich, and he said, ‘I’m not going down on the green stuff’, and then ‘Plugga’ (Lockett) came up to the table and said, ‘Yes, you are’.
“So, the big fella physically took him down to the ground, escorted him up the race … (there are) some amazing photos – I get emotional thinking about it now.”
Lockett’s selfless act for Roberts was captured in some stunning photographs of the pair strolling up the MCG race collectively.
“I’ve got those forever,” Michael stated.
Roberts almost died in a automotive accident in 1976 when Melbourne legend Ron Barassi’s automotive went right into a tree with Roberts within the passenger seat.
“It was fantastic to see the old boy out there,” Michael stated.
“He’s on a walking stick. The Barassi accident nearly killed both of them back in ’76 – they hit an elm tree at 100 miles an hour, but I’ve never heard the old man complain once.
“He had 12 breaks in his ankle and did his hip, and he physically can’t get around like he used to and shuffles around.
“But for Lockett to do that was high praise for both of them.”
Montagna stated Roberts is likely to be frail however he was sharp as ever at St Kilda’s 150-year celebrations.
He stated: “Robbo’s dad might be nearly 90 and struggling physically, but he’s still sharp as a tack and he still had the room in stitches, because he got up, Neil Roberts, to elevate Bill Mohr (to legend status) – they call Bill Mohr the Tony Lockett of the ‘30s.
“And Neil got to speak about him and he was quite entertaining still, Neil. He still had the room in raptures.”
Lockett kicked 1360 targets in 281 video games for St Kilda and Sydney, gained 4 Coleman Medals and claimed the Brownlow Medal in 1987.
The VFL/AFL’s all-time main goalkicker has hardly ever been seen in recent times aside from when he was elevated to AFL Legend standing in 2015 and a short assistant teaching stint with the Sydney Swans.
St Kilda have the longest premiership drought within the AFL however are undefeated and on prime of the ladder after three rounds underneath returning coach Ross Lyon.
Source: www.news.com.au
