Bob Corbett | Demonwiki (original) (raw)

DOB: 23 November <1895>
Died: 10 June <1957>

Debut: Round 1, 1920 against South Melbourne at
Last Game: Round 18, 1929 against at

From: Golden Point

Number: 12 (1920-1929)

Honours:
150 Heroes selection
Victorian state player - <1920>, <1921>, <1922>, <1923>, <1927>, <1928> (18 matches)
Life Member

Games: 161
Goals: 9
Career Statistics

A First World War veteran who debuted in <1920>, Corbett was a centreman who played all 16 games for the year and represented Victoria. He had made his senior football debut aged 13-years-old with Golden Point. He played there for three years before joining the army, where he vice-captained a team representing the Fifth Division. He returned to Golden Point in <1919> and signed with Melbourne the next year.

Corbett relocated back to Ballarat in <1921> and asked for a clearance back to his old side but was refused. Instead he played games with their junior side. He wasn't lured back to Melbourne full-time until he could alter his work commitments in Ballarat so he'd have Saturday free and only played six games for the year.

From <1923> onwards, Corbett lived in Melbourne and was a regular in the Redlegs lineup. He was linked with a move to in <1925> but remained at Melbourne. Corbett was involved in a sensational incident in the 1926 Preliminary Final. King hit by an Essendon player just before half-time, Corbett returned, covered in bandages to help inspire his side to victory. After playing every game for the season, a broken jaw meant he couldn't play in the Grand Final triumph, but without his inspirational return his teammates may never have had the opportunity to beat the Pies. His absence in the Grand Final proved costly for another ever-present player, Ossie Green, who was forced out of the side for team balance reasons.

In <1923> and <1928> Corbett played for the VFL against Bendigo, in <1924> against Ballarat and in <1925> against Ballarat and Bendigo league sides. He joined Castlemaine as a playing coach in <1930> before retiring as a player and taking up a role as a VFL boundary umpire. He served in 40 matches from <1931> to <1933>.

Corbett was also an accomplished sprinter, winning the Echuca Gift and several other prominent holiday races.

Lists
Players turned umpires
Players who served during war

Notes
This article claims he played a game for Geelong aged 16. Shown as being back at Golden Point in 1922. Linked to Footscray in 1925 but did not join them.

Media
Ballarat Star - 17/05/1921
Herald - 03/06/1921
Sporting Globe - 28/03/1925
Sporting Globe - 02/10/1926
Sun - 07/02/1930
Herald - 09/04/1930
Football Record R1 1931
Sporting Globe - 16/09/1931
Football Record R3 1933

Links
Australian Football profile
Boyles Football Photos
Players who also umpired - Boyles Football Photos
Demonwiki image gallery
War record
Wikipedia profile