For the former North American soccer player from South Africa, see Neill Roberts

Neill Roberts

Neill Roberts is a retired South Africa soccer forward who spent six seasons in the North American Soccer League and four in the Major Indoor Soccer League....

.

Neil E. Roberts (born 15 June 1933) is a former Australian rules football

Australian rules football

Australian rules football, officially known as Australian football, also called football, Aussie rules or footy is a sport played between two teams of 22 players on either...

er in the VFL.

Roberts played with St Kilda on the forward line initially but later excelled as a centre half back, winning the Brownlow medal

Brownlow Medal

The Chas Brownlow Trophy, better known as the Brownlow Medal , is awarded to the "fairest and best" player in the Australian Football League during the regular season as determined by votes cast by the officiating field umpires after each game...

 in 1958. Captained the side from 1959 to 1962 before retiring at 29 years of age and commencing a career in sports journalism

Journalism

Journalism is the practice of investigation and reporting of events, issues and trends to a broad audience in a timely fashion. Though there are many variations of journalism, the ideal is to inform the intended audience. Along with covering organizations and institutions such as government and...

. Inducted to the Saints inaugural Hall of Fame in 2003.

His son, Michael Roberts

Michael Roberts (footballer)

Michael Roberts is a former Australian rules footballer and now television sports journalist and reporter with the Nine Network and Triple M. He is also affectionately known as 'Robbo' or 'Snickers'.- Football career :...

 also played for the Saints and is now a sports broadcaster.

Neil Roberts was officer in charge of Mawson base

Mawson Station

Mawson Station is one of three permanent Australian bases in the Australian Antarctic Territory of East Antarctica. Named after Antarctic explorer Sir Douglas Mawson, the base is managed by the Australian Antarctic Division...

, Antarctica 1971–1973. Now retired to farming.