Robbie Muir (footballer) facts for kids

Robert "Robbie" Muir (born 8 October 1953) is an Indigenous former Australian rules football player. He played for the St Kilda Football Club in the Victorian Football League (VFL). Robbie also played for West Torrens Football Club and Woodville Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL).

Robbie was known as a very talented player. He was also known for getting angry on the field. This often happened when he faced mean comments about his background from fans and other players. He was reported 13 times and suspended for 22 weeks during his career. This included a 12-week suspension in 1984. Because of these outbursts, some people called him "Mad Dog," a nickname Robbie did not like.

Robbie Muir's Early Life

Robbie Muir's family were Yorta Yorta people. They came from the Cummeragunja mission near the Murray River. Robbie grew up in Ballarat, Australia. His mother, Myrtle, raised and cared for more than 43 children. Robbie said there were always at least 11 people living in their family home.

Robbie's father, Cyril, was a painter who struggled with alcohol. Cyril sometimes treated Robbie harshly. One time, Cyril kicked Robbie in the stomach. This caused Robbie to have stomach problems throughout his football career. These difficult experiences led Robbie to receive special medical treatment for his mind when he was seven years old.

School and First Steps in Football

Robbie went to Ballarat Technical School until he was 15. After leaving school, he worked as a slaughterman. He played junior football for the Ballarat Football Club. He even captained their under-18 team. Robbie was a brilliant football talent. However, he faced constant mean comments about his background as a junior player. These comments were so bad that a fan wrote to a local newspaper. The fan complained about the "filth and abuse" Robbie received.

Len Templar, Robbie's senior coach at Ballarat, praised his talent. Templar, a former North Melbourne player, said Robbie was "as brilliant a player off nothing as I've ever seen."

Early Challenges and Suspension

Robbie became a father when he was about 16 or 17. His daughter was adopted out against his wishes. Robbie felt she was "stolen." While upset about this news, Robbie had an accident. He did not meet his daughter until she was 18 years old.

In 1971, Robbie was playing for Ballarat against Redan. He was reported for kicking an opponent. Robbie said it was an accidental trip, and his opponent agreed. However, the umpires said it was a "deliberate, vicious kick." Officials from the Ballarat Football League suspended Robbie for two and a half years. The Ballarat Football Club tried to overturn the suspension in court. They said there was unfair treatment, but they were not successful.

During this time away from organized football, Robbie played for Aboriginal representative teams. He toured Papua New Guinea in 1973. This tour was guided by Sir Doug Nicholls, who was also from the Cummeragunja Mission. Robbie also started to get into trouble because of alcohol. He had problems with the police for various reasons related to alcohol.

After his suspension ended in 1974, Robbie returned to play for Ballarat. He played seven amazing games for the club. Because of his strong performance, St Kilda recruited him mid-season.

Robbie Muir's Professional Football Career

St Kilda recruited Robbie Muir in the middle of the 1974 season. He played 50 senior VFL games by early 1977. Most of these games were under coach Allan Jeans. Robbie won St Kilda's most improved player award in 1975. However, he only played 18 more games in the next four seasons.

Many experts recognized Robbie's football skills. Ron Barassi called him one of the VFL's most talented players. Len Templar said, "There was no better player than Muir. ... He could have done anything." Neil Roberts, a close friend of Robbie's, said, "He's not a fellow, he's a happening." St Kilda's official history described Robbie's playing style. It said he played with "cyclonic power" and "one-touch skills."

The "Mad Dog" Nickname

Robbie's teammate Kevin Neale gave him the nickname "Mad Dog." Neale thought Robbie ran around the field "like a sheep dog ... mad." The name became popular. It later became linked to Robbie's many acts of anger on the field. Robbie later said he disliked the name. He felt it was connected to unfair treatment. "I don't want people to say, 'There goes Mad Dog,'" he explained. Former AFL coach John Northey also criticized the name. He said, "I think Robert is more maligned than any player who's ever played the game. I think it put him in positions he shouldn't have been in."

Facing Challenges and Moving Clubs

Robbie's time at St Kilda was difficult. He faced constant mean comments from opposing players and fans. His own club did not always understand his difficult situation. Robbie said, "I just answered (racism) probably the wrong way and belt them back ... They wouldn’t say it the next game so you'd shut them down that way." He added, "We didn’t have vilification rules, no lawyers, counsellors, didn’t have that. You're basically just left on your own, to your own devices."

Towards the end of his first time at St Kilda in 1978, Robbie was reported for kicking an opponent. This happened in a reserves game against South Melbourne. He received an eight-week suspension. Robbie felt upset because his lawyer used unfair ideas about his background to defend him. Robbie then moved to West Torrens Football Club in the South Australian National Football League (SANFL) for the 1979 season. While at West Torrens, he was suspended for four matches for hitting a player. He was also cleared of a charge of hitting an umpire.

Return to St Kilda and Further Incidents

Robbie returned to St Kilda in 1980. Later that season, in a match against Collingwood, Robbie was reported for hitting Ray Shaw. Robbie said he was treated badly by Collingwood players and fans throughout the match. He showed clear distress during and after the game. Collingwood fans continued to bother Robbie outside the change rooms. A journalist described the fans as "hyenas round a cornered prey." Robbie needed police help to leave the ground. Even then, a bottle was thrown, breaking his car windshield.

At the hearing, Robbie said Shaw had spat on him. Shaw denied this, and Robbie was suspended for four matches. An anonymous teammate told a newspaper, "It isn't only Collingwood ... [racial abuse] happens to Robert all the time, and we're powerless to do anything to help him ... they're ruining a fine player."

At the end of 1980, Robbie left St Kilda. He returned to Ballarat for a while, then settled in Adelaide. Robbie came back to St Kilda in 1984. Coach Tony Jewell asked him to return. Jewell allowed Robbie to train in Adelaide and fly to Melbourne for games. In a reserves match in Geelong that April, Robbie responded to constant mean comments from Geelong senior players. He made a rude gesture and ripped off his jumper to show his skin. Robbie kicked seven goals in that game.

Later that season, Robbie played against Carlton. This was a very tense match. Robbie said Carlton opponents treated him badly "every five or 10 minutes." Robbie was reported seven times for angry behavior. St Kilda and his lawyer at the hearing decided to argue that the mean comments caused Robbie's actions. Mollie Dyer from the Aboriginal Advancement League spoke strongly in Robbie's defense. Fellow Aboriginal player Maurice Rioli also spoke for Robbie. He said, "Robert can't accept [racial abuse] as a tactic [by opponents] like myself." Robbie was found guilty of six of the seven charges. He was suspended for 12 matches.

Robbie's mother, Myrtle, later spoke to a newspaper:

I've heard some of the things [Aboriginal players] have hurled at them during a match. People calling them 'boongs' and 'black bastards'. Most of the Aboriginal players can turn a deaf ear to it. It's just unfortunate Robert can't ... I never dreamed this sort of thing would go on in major league football.

—Myrtle Muir

Robbie told the same newspaper, "We do hear the supporters [make racist remarks] a bit, but it hurts when it comes from the players themselves. It shouldn't be allowed to go on."

Robbie signed with SANFL club Woodville Football Club for 1985. The coach was Malcolm Blight. In Woodville's away match against his old team West Torrens, Robbie again reacted strongly to repeated mean comments. He was playing at full-back. West Torrens fans in the crowd constantly bothered him. They made mean comments and threw things at him. Robbie asked his team's staff to get the police to remove the person. Nothing happened. At the end of the game, after being hit by a thrown can again, Robbie took action himself. He jumped the fence and repeatedly punched the person. The police then stepped in and arrested Robbie. Woodville fired Robbie because of this. This ended his professional football career.

Life After Football

After his football career, Robbie worked with various Aboriginal charity groups. He worked with Aboriginal prisoners. He also mentored young Aboriginal footballers and cricketers. He coached RecLink football teams as well.

In 2006, Robbie became involved in umpiring in an amateur league. This league was known for players who did not respect officials. With Robbie, a respected former player, as umpire, people hoped his presence would help stop this behavior. He also umpired the EJ Whitten Legends Game in 2006. He also umpired a charity game at Glenferrie Oval on 25 June 2006.

Robbie has not been included in some Indigenous events. These events were organized by the St Kilda Football Club or the Australian Football League. This is despite his important role as one of the few Indigenous players at the highest level in the 1970s.

In August 2020, Robbie spoke publicly about the mean treatment he faced. He said spectators, opponents, and even his own teammates treated him very badly during his playing days. This included one incident where Robbie said he faced terrible treatment from his St Kilda teammates. Both the AFL and the St Kilda Football Club said sorry for how Robbie was treated.

St Kilda chief executive Matt Finnis released a statement:

Reading about the impact of racism on Robert Muir's life in today's ABC article will no doubt be confronting for everyone involved in football, as it was for me personally. We admire Robert's courage to speak out about the racism he has endured and lack of support provided by our club when he needed it most. We apologise unreservedly to Robert and his family and are humbled that he continues to love our club. Today we celebrate the contribution Indigenous players have made to our game as part of the Sir Doug Nicholls Round. However, we must face the reality that the St Kilda Football Club has made grave errors in the past and may still be failing to grasp the full impact of the hurt felt by individuals, their families and all Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples.

—Matt Finnis

The AFL also said sorry, similar to St Kilda's apology. Many people praised Robbie for his bravery in sharing his experiences. He showed how much unfair treatment was present during his time.

As of 2020, Robbie Muir is retired. He lives on the outskirts of Adelaide.