Details have emerged of Tony Lockett’s seriously classy act for St Kilda legend Neil Roberts at the club’s 150-year celebrations on the weekend.
The Saints celebrated 150 years of existence before their Round 3 match against Essendon at the MCG, which they won by 18 points.
Several club icons were present including 89-year-old Roberts, who won the 1958 Brownlow Medal and was part of St Kilda’s last premiership way back in 1966.
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Lockett was there too, as was Nicky Winmar and the family of the late Danny Frawley, while Leigh Montagna and Nick Dal Santo were 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 way to wrap his arms around Roberts, walk with him from the pre-game function room through the bowels of the MCG, up the tunnel and onto the field for the pre-game ceremony.
“He’s nearly 90; the oldest living Brownlow medallist going around,” Michael Roberts said.
“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 beautiful photos of the pair walking up the MCG race together.
“I’ve got those forever,” Michael said.
Roberts nearly died in a car accident in 1976 when Melbourne legend Ron Barassi’s car went into a tree with Roberts in the passenger seat.
“It was fantastic to see the old boy out there,” Michael said.
“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 said Roberts might be frail but he was sharp as ever at St Kilda’s 150-year celebrations.
He said: “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 goals in 281 games for St Kilda and Sydney, won four Coleman Medals and claimed the Brownlow Medal in 1987.
The VFL/AFL’s all-time leading goalkicker has rarely been seen in recent years apart from when he was elevated to AFL Legend status in 2015 and a brief assistant coaching stint with the Sydney Swans.
St Kilda have the longest premiership drought in the AFL but are undefeated and on top of the ladder after three rounds under returning coach Ross Lyon.
