BIO

A dashing rover, Bob Fosdike had the misfortune to play in five losing grand final teams between 1952 and 1961 – a record set partly right when his wingman son Duncan enjoyed premiership success in 1982 and 1984.

Whether playing for Norwood or South Australia, Bob thrilled fans as he zigzagged through opposition lines and kicked accurately either foot.  He was Norwood’s top goalkicker in 1956 with 33 majors.

In one match at Adelaide Oval, Norwood struggled against South Adelaide all day and still trailed by five points as “Fozzie”, who had lost his contact lenses and could not see clearly, ran forward and  kicked the ball in the general direction of the goals.  It sailed through the middle as the siren sounded, giving Norwood victory by one point.

Bob and his brother Len, who also made the league team, were the first of three Fosdike generations to play with the Redlegs.  Two of Bob’s sons, Duncan and Simon, played league and a third son, Craig, was a Norwood junior, as were Craig’s sons Nic and Matthew. Nic who played 13 league games with Norwood, was picked up by the Sydney Swans and starred in their 2005 premiership triumph.


P Robins April 2013