Bob Quinn - The Rover of Tobruk

[Ford Fairlane]

On Channel 7 now

Ugh the sudden intrusion of commercials in the story are ruining it.

 

[Interstater]

On Channel 7 now

Ugh the sudden intrusion of commercials in the story are ruining it.

The Rover Of Tobruk | 7plus

Play it on mute and then rewind and play again so the adverts are skipped.

 

[Dalfino]

Finally got around to watching this whilst on holidays, absolutely blew me away. What an incredible story. Could've easily been another hour long and I would've still been gripped from start to finish. Essential viewing for anyone involved in the Port Adelaide Football Club.

On a personal note the bit on George Quinn really hit home. The lad was only 23 years old, being 22 now myself really sunk in. The words legend and hero don't do this family enough justice.

 

[Grave Danger]

I bet they didn't show this to our players before the prelim...

Adelaide football documentary THE ROVER OF TOBRUK secures UK broadcast deal

An Adelaide-produced documentary about war hero and football legend Bob Quinn, shot in two-and-a-half days for just $25,000, will be broadcast internationally on AFL Grand Final day after a major overseas network acquired rights to the film.

tvblackbox.com.au

 

[Byrons Firen]

To hear Timmy G wax lyrical about his favourite Port player is a wonderful thing. From laughter to welling up with emotion I find it hard to

not catch my breath or shed a tear in awe of this man. Bob Quinn we salute you.

 

[Expat power]

I bet they didn't show this to our players before the prelim...

Adelaide football documentary THE ROVER OF TOBRUK secures UK broadcast deal

An Adelaide-produced documentary about war hero and football legend Bob Quinn, shot in two-and-a-half days for just $25,000, will be broadcast internationally on AFL Grand Final day after a major overseas network acquired rights to the film.

tvblackbox.com.au

They've played these things in the past and I'm actually starting to wonder if it does us more damage than good? Port has always been a club driven very much by emotion. Never Tear Us Apart was as loud as I've ever heard it before the prelim, the build up was huge. We've already heard internally from the players and coaches that they felt the pregame was bigger than ever. Maybe we exhaust too much energy before the game? Maybe these stories along with what we have going on with Russel Ebert actually don't work for our players? Not saying it's a fact, just wondering if others have felt the same.

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

And a few other tweets over the last 3 months

 

[Enviable Tradition]

They've played these things in the past and I'm actually starting to wonder if it does us more damage than good? Port has always been a club driven very much by emotion. Never Tear Us Apart was as loud as I've ever heard it before the prelim, the build up was huge. We've already heard internally from the players and coaches that they felt the pregame was bigger than ever. Maybe we exhaust too much energy before the game? Maybe these stories along with what we have going on with Russel Ebert actually don't work for our players? Not saying it's a fact, just wondering if others have felt the same.

I vehemently disagree.

If this shit doesn't inspire you, you are one of the no hopers who should be weeded out.

 

[Ford Fairlane]

 

[Jojay]

 

[GremioPower]

“Always work harder for longer than anyone else.”

Sorry! I couldn’t resist.

Chief, can I report my own post?!

 

[TazD]

“Always work harder for longer than anyone else.”

Sorry! I couldn’t resist.

Chief, can I report my own post?!

I'll help you out

 

[GremioPower]

 

[GremioPower]

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I made this spreadsheet over ANZAC Rd trying to work out how many games Bob played for Port in the SANFL.

I remember in Dynasty when I first read it in 1999, it said Ted Whelan was the first to play 200 games for the club in the SANFL in the early 1950's, and I thought at the time what about Bob Quinn, as I had seen he had played over 200 games.

In Dynasty in the last / appendix chapter it said that Quinn had played 233 games for Port between 1993 and 1947.

His Australian Football Hall of Fame profile says
Bob Quinn (Port Adelaide SANFL)
9/4/1915
Inducted: 1996
Quick rover with great stamina who was known for his courage.

Playing career: 1934-1947
Games: 186 Goals: 386

Player honours: Magarey Medal 1938, 1945; club best and fairest 1937, 1938, 1945, 1947; club leading goalkicker 1937, 1945; South Aust (15 games).

His South Australian Football Hall of Fame profile page says

PLAYING RECORD​

• 239 games and 386 goals for Port Adelaide, 1933 – 1947
• Captain of Port Adelaide 1939, 1940, 1945, 1946, 1947

MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA​

• 15 – Captain of South Australia 1945, 1946, 1947

...........

His Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame profile says
Robert Berrima Quinn M.M.
Player: 1933-1940, 1944-1947
Games: 239 | Goals: 386
.......

Ashley Porter in his wonderful article he wrote for ANZAC day 2008 just months before Bob passed away, when he was in poor health, on a 20 year promise not to publish it before it was the right time, but his family gave Ashley permission to publish the story, and I put the text of the full article HERE, wrote;

At just 5ft 6in, and less than 11 stone, Quinn, a rover like his father, played 186 SANFL games – many as captain and coach – and kicked 386 goals for Port between 1933 and 1947. He won two best-and-fairest awards before World War II and two after, played in three premiership sides and represented SA 15 times – and was state captain-coach in 1945, '46 and '47. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

So Bob must have played 53 games representing Port in those preseason and postseason games in WA, Tassie and Victoriam the club used to organise, and maybe also preseason trials in SA.

I'm pretty sure there were no preseason cup games played against other SANFL teams until the 1960's.

In his wiki page it says 239 games for Port and 12 games for PA-West Torrens combo side in 1944.

Below is the maximum games he could have played for Port in the SANFL is 210 - Rd 1 in 1933 = 209 as he debuted in Rd 2.

He signed up for the Army in June 1940, so given how late the season started back then it was probably 8-12 games he missed in 1940.

So through injuries and playing for SA, when interstate state games, and the local competition continued, he missed between 10-14 games if the 186 total is correct. That seems reasonable.

The 53 other games meant he was playing a lot of games, maybe 5 or 6 a year for the club but not SANFL premiership season games.

Year	Minor Rd	Finals	Total	Ladder - Finished	Notes
1933​	17​	0​	17​	5th	Debut Rd 2
1934​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1935​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1936​	17​	3​	20​	1st/1st
1937​	17​	2​	19​	1st/1st
1938​	17​	3​	20​	2nd/2nd
1939​	17​	2​	19​	1st/1st
1940​	17​	2​	19​	2nd/3rd	Signed up June 1940
1941​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR
1942​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR PA-WT
1943​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR PA-WT
1944​	0​	0​	0​	NA	PA-WT
1945​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1946​	17​	3​	20​	2nd/2nd
1947​	17​	2​	19​	2nd/3rd
Max Total games	187​	23​	210​

 

[NoddyHolder]

I made this spreadsheet over ANZAC Rd trying to work out how many games Bob played for Port in the SANFL.

I remember in Dynasty when I first read it in 1999, it said Ted Whelan was the first to play 200 games for the club in the SANFL in the early 1950's, and I thought at the time what about Bob Quinn, as I had seen he had played over 200 games.

In Dynasty in the last / appendix chapter it said that Quinn had played 233 games for Port between 1993 and 1947.

His Australian Football Hall of Fame profile says
Bob Quinn (Port Adelaide SANFL)
9/4/1915
Inducted: 1996
Quick rover with great stamina who was known for his courage.

Playing career: 1934-1947
Games: 186 Goals: 386

Player honours: Magarey Medal 1938, 1945; club best and fairest 1937, 1938, 1945, 1947; club leading goalkicker 1937, 1945; South Aust (15 games).

His South Australian Football Hall of Fame profile page says

PLAYING RECORD​

• 239 games and 386 goals for Port Adelaide, 1933 – 1947
• Captain of Port Adelaide 1939, 1940, 1945, 1946, 1947

MATCHES FOR SOUTH AUSTRALIA​

• 15 – Captain of South Australia 1945, 1946, 1947

...........

His Port Adelaide Football Club Hall of Fame profile says
Robert Berrima Quinn M.M.
Player: 1933-1940, 1944-1947
Games: 239 | Goals: 386
.......

Ashley Porter in his wonderful article he wrote for ANZAC day 2008 just months before Bob passed away, when he was in poor health, on a 20 year promise not to publish it before it was the right time, but his family gave Ashley permission to publish the story, and I put the text of the full article HERE, wrote;

At just 5ft 6in, and less than 11 stone, Quinn, a rover like his father, played 186 SANFL games – many as captain and coach – and kicked 386 goals for Port between 1933 and 1947. He won two best-and-fairest awards before World War II and two after, played in three premiership sides and represented SA 15 times – and was state captain-coach in 1945, '46 and '47. He was inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 1996.

So Bob must have played 53 games representing Port in those preseason and postseason games in WA, Tassie and Victoriam the club used to organise, and maybe also preseason trials in SA.

I'm pretty sure there were no preseason cup games played against other SANFL teams until the 1960's.

In his wiki page it says 239 games for Port and 12 games for PA-West Torrens combo side in 1944.

Below is the maximum games he could have played for Port in the SANFL is 210 - Rd 1 in 1933 = 209 as he debuted in Rd 2.

He signed up for the Army in June 1940 so given how late the season started back then it was probably 8-12 games. So through injuries and playing for SA, when interstate state games, the competition continued he missed between 10-14 games if the 186 total is correct. That seems reasonable.

The 53 other games meant he was playing a lot of games, maybe 5 or 6 a year for the club but not SANFL premiership season games.

Year	Minor Rd	Finals	Total	Ladder - Finished	Notes
1933​	17​	0​	17​	5th	Debut Rd 2
1934​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1935​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1936​	17​	3​	20​	1st/1st
1937​	17​	2​	19​	1st/1st
1938​	17​	3​	20​	2nd/2nd
1939​	17​	2​	19​	1st/1st
1940​	17​	2​	19​	2nd/3rd	Signed up June 1940
1941​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR
1942​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR PA-WT
1943​	0​	0​	0​	NA	WAR PA-WT
1944​	0​	0​	0​	NA	PA-WT
1945​	17​	2​	19​	1st/2nd
1946​	17​	3​	20​	2nd/2nd
1947​	17​	2​	19​	2nd/3rd
Max Total games	187​	23​	210​

I just consulted my 100 Years With the Magpies and Bob McLean has him at 185 sanfl games.

1933 - 8 games
34 - 11
35 - 18
36 - 20
37 - 19
38 - 20
39 - 13
40 - 11
44 - 12 (PA/WT)
45 - 18
46 - 17
47 - 18

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I just consulted my 100 Years With the Magpies and Bob McLean has him at 185 sanfl games.

1933 - 8 games
34 - 11
35 - 18
36 - 20
37 - 19
38 - 20
39 - 13
40 - 11
44 - 12 (PA/WT)
45 - 18
46 - 17
47 - 18

Well that just confuses the issue even more.

 

[NoddyHolder]

Well that just confuses the issue even more.

I'd trust Big Bob's figures. He would have had best access to primary sources

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

I'd trust Big Bob's figures. He would have had best access to primary sources

True but that means if the 239 games figure is correct, as per Port's Hall of Fame page, and Bob says 12 of the 185 games was for PA-WT combo side, then does that mean its not 53 games but 66 non SANFL premiership season games?

 

[NoddyHolder]

True but that means if the 239 games figure is correct, as per Port's Hall of Fame page, and Bob says 12 of the 185 games was for PA-WT combo side, then does that mean its not 53 games but 66 non SANFL premiership season games?

Could the number include reserves footy? He played a bit of B grade before establishing himself in the league team

 

[RussellEbertHandball]

Could the number include reserves footy? He played a bit of B grade before establishing himself in the league team

It shouldn't. No other players totals that I'm aware of included reserves footy.

If it does, then how consistent was it and were all pre WWII players' totals inclusive of reserve games??

 

[NoddyHolder]

It shouldn't. No other players totals that I'm aware of included reserves footy.

If it does, then how consistent was it and were all pre WWII players' totals inclusive of reserve games??

Agree it's unlikely.
I have this 1934 B team photo with him in it. He's sitting on the ground, on the right. So he played enough to play in the grand final that year.

 

[Rexie J]

Agree it's unlikely.
I have this 1934 B team photo with him in it. He's sitting on the ground, on the right. So he played enough to play in the grand final that year. View attachment 1401716

Breathtaking!. From an era (and onwards) we shall never see again. McMahon, Philp, Eime, Whelan, Quinn and many others.

 

[NoddyHolder]

Breathtaking!. From an era (and onwards) we shall never see again. McMahon, Philp, Eime, Whelan, Quinn and many others.

I have that photo because my great uncle is in it. Chris Johnston. He played in the 3 premierships in the 30s (120 odd games) then unfortunately died in the war - New Guinea. I inherited the photo from my grandfather

 

[Rexie J]

Cherish that photo Noddy. So often in our younger/bomb proof years we sometimes never quite understand the impact our relatives have made on ours and other peoples lives.

Mrs R has an 1947 photo of her late Father in the same team team as Bob Quinn - lost the GF to Westies.