BIO

Matthew Robran attended Marryatville High School, and played his early football for the Walkerville Football Club. In 1988 he played 20 games for the Norwood Under 17's premiership-winning team.

Robran progressed to the Reserves in 1989. The side reached the Grand Final and Robran capped off an impressive season by taking out the Reserves best and fairest award. He also played six senior games during the year as a ruck/forward pocket, kicking three goals on debut in round 5, against West Adelaide.

By 1990, the tall and athletic Robran had become a regular league footballer, making 22 senior appearances for the year and finishing third in the club's best and fairest award. He polled 14 votes in the Magarey Medal, two votes behind the winner, Scott Hodges (Port Adelaide). Playing predominantly out of a back pocket, Robran was also selected in that year's State team that played against Western Australia.

Robran had been drafted by Hawthorn in 1989, and joined the Hawks for the 1991 season. He played seven games in his first year, making his AFL debut in round 1 against the Adelaide Crows, the Crows' first game in the AFL competition.

In 1992 home-sickness set in, but a contractual dispute prevented him from returning home to play. He decided to take the year off from football, and was eventually traded to the Crows at the end of the year for pick 11. Ironically, Hawthorn used that pick to draft his brother Jonathon. 

Matthew went on to play 130 games for the Crows, including the 1997 and 1998 Grand Final victories, playing at centre-half forward.

He managed to make a few more appearances for the Redlegs however, usually when returning from an injury sustained whilst  playing in the AFL. Robran played two games for Norwood early in the 1993 season. In July of that year, he broke his leg in three places playing for the Crows on the Sydney Cricket Ground. He came back via the Redlegs in 1994 and kicked 8 majors against North Adelaide in one of his nine appearances.

Robran played another 12 matches in 1995, including his 50th for the club.  His final game for Norwood was in the 2001 first semi-final.

A chronic back injury ended his career, thus preventing him from playing a season of SANFL with younger brother Jonathon (100 NFC games).

Their father Barrie, is the legendary North Adelaide triple Magarey Medallist - widely regarded as the best footballer the State has produced.

R Cialini July 2017