It was announced on Monday that Club and AFL legend Bob Skilton had been awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia (OAM) for services to AFL and the community.
On behalf of all Sydney members and supporters we congratulate Bob and Marian on this long overdue recognition.
No one is more deserving of such an honour.
As virtually everyone connected to Australian football knows Bob won three Brownlow Medals and nine Swans B+Fs (now known as the RJ Skilton Medal).
In addition to being declared Club Champion nine times he was runner up on three occasions and third once.
Bob is a Legend of the AFL and a Sydney Swans Legend.
His was selected in the AFL Team of the Century and as captain of the Swans Team of the Century.
He played 237 games for our club. He made his debut aged 17 and retired at nearly 33.
In addition he was captain coach for 35 games between 1965-66.
And between 1974-77 coached the Melbourne Football Club in 88 games.
He represented Victoria 25 times.
Post his playing and coaching career Bob was one of Channel 7’s lead callers and he was also prominent in Melbourne radio calling and commentating.
As painful as it was personally he was a major supporter of South Melbourne relocating to Sydney. Believing it was the only way the club could survive.
He is Patron of our club.
He is also Patron of the Infinity Club, an arm of the Sydney Swans Foundation.
On July 26, a stature of Bob will be unveiled at the spiritual home of the Sydney Swans – South Melbourne’s Lakeside Oval.
Bob’s commitment to the community is legendary.
He has been actively involved with many charities and community organisations including:
The Melbourne Leukaemia Research Foundation; as a member of the Royal Children’s Hospital (Victoria), as a long-standing member of the Sporting Chance Foundation (in recognition, an outreach program was named in his honour and the car used by the oncology nurse associated with that program is known as the Bob Skilton Car); and an Ambassador of the EJ Whitten Foundation, a major supporter of men’s health in Australia, particularly prostate cancer.
And for nearly 60 years his major supporter in every endeavour has been his beautiful and beloved wife Marian.
Well played Champ.
