{"id":5124,"date":"2025-07-19T06:05:18","date_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:05:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/5124\/"},"modified":"2025-07-19T06:05:18","modified_gmt":"2025-07-19T06:05:18","slug":"south-australian-football-icon-barrie-robrans-cause-of-death-revealed","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/au\/5124\/","title":{"rendered":"South Australian football icon Barrie Robran\u2019s cause of death revealed"},"content":{"rendered":"

South Australian football icon Barrie Robran\u2019s \u201cunexpected\u201d cause of death<\/a> has been revealed.<\/p>\n

The SANFL noted during the week that Robran\u2019s death suddenly happened while he was \u201cpreparing to have knee surgery<\/a>\u201d.<\/p>\n

Knee surgeries were nothing new for Robran after he had a shocking injury in a state game against Victoria in 1974 (when he was sandwiched in a marking contest between Bernie Quinlan and Leigh Matthews).<\/p>\n

Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today \"Download<\/a><\/p>\n

Regular procedures have followed that incident.<\/p>\n

But on this occasion, there were complications, and the 77-year-old ended up in emergency. Not long after that he had tragically lost his life.<\/a><\/p>\n

The family is certainly not blaming anyone.<\/p>\n

\"BarrieBarrie Robran\u2019s family have rejected a state funeral. Credit: North Adelaide Football Club<\/p>\n

In a statement, the family said on Friday: \u201cWe would also like to offer our deep gratitude and thanks to the professional and compassionate staff at Calvary Adelaide Hospital\u2019s emergency department.\u201d<\/p>\n

Calvary Adelaide Hospital was asked about the \u201ccomplications\u201d but told 7NEWS.com.au they had no further comment.<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, the Robran family has also \u201crespectfully\u201d declined the offer of a state funeral.<\/p>\n

\u201cDuring this time of grief and sorrow we are overwhelmed by the many kind and thoughtful words and memories being shared about our beloved Barrie,\u201d the family said.<\/p>\n

\u201cA sincere thanks to the Australian football community and public for reaching out to us, both privately and publicly. We take solace in the knowledge that Barrie\u2019s impact and influence on so many was so great, in such a positive way.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe would also like to offer our deep gratitude and thanks to the professional and compassionate staff at Calvary Adelaide Hospital\u2019s emergency department.<\/p>\n

\u201cAs a loving and caring husband, father, grandfather, and uncle, Barrie made us very proud.<\/p>\n

\u201cHis loss will have a profound impact on us all and we will miss him dearly. Those who knew him appreciated his humility, reflected in a preference to let his achievements speak for themselves.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe will be following Barrie\u2019s wishes for a small private family funeral. Our sincere thanks to Premier Peter Malinauskas and the people of South Australia for the offer – that we have respectfully declined – for a state service.\u201d<\/p>\n

Radio star Jade Robran has returned to work and said the death of her famous uncle was certainly \u201cunexpected\u201d.<\/p>\n

\"RobranRobran is considered one of the greatest to have ever played Aussie Rules. Credit: 7NEWS<\/p>\n

\u201cYou feel a bit numb … Barrie\u2019s death was unexpected and has come as a huge shock to all of us. It\u2019s sad \u2013 he\u2019s not here anymore,\u201d she said on FIVEAA on Friday.<\/p>\n

\u201cDad (former-footballer Rodney Robran) just said to me … \u2018I\u2019m not going to hear his voice anymore\u2019…<\/p>\n

\u201cIt\u2019s just hard. Reading the tributes, hearing the stories shared has been so heartwarming, and we are so grateful.<\/p>\n

\u201cPlease keep them coming, cause it does make it easier.\u201d<\/p>\n

Meanwhile, tributes have continued to roll in for the football legend, considered one of the best of all time.<\/p>\n

Legendary Channel 7 sports presenter Bruce McAvaney called Robran a \u201ccolossus of South Australian football\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think South Australia has produced anyone who is more significant in terms of football,\u201d McAvaney said.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t think he ever realised or understood the effect that he had on our state and just the adulation that so many people had for him.<\/p>\n

\u201cHe\u2019s SA football\u2019s great champion and I say that with no disrespect to anyone else. He\u2019s Bradman-esque in terms of football. I haven\u2019t seen a better player from our state.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another great of Adelaide football, Graham Cornes, said he was stunned by the news.<\/p>\n

\u201cGot a phone call this morning. It was just mind-numbing, just a shock,\u201d Cornes told 7NEWS on Wednesday.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere will be endless tributes (for Barrie) … There will be no end to the compliments that he can be paid, there will be no end to the praise because he is worthy of all of it.<\/p>\n

\u201cNot only because of his skill and his talent, but because of his demeanour; he was just so modest …. everybody loved him.\u201d<\/p>\n

Brooke Robran, the daughter of Barrie\u2019s son, Matthew, shared a tearful tribute to her grandfather on social media.<\/p>\n

\u201cToday\u2019s a hard day for my family and you know, everyone in South Australia loved him and I just hope that I can carry a part of that on,\u201d Brooke said.<\/p>\n

\u201cEveryone that he met he was so lovely to and I think it\u2019s important that we continue to hold onto that and do him proud going forward.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe love you forever, rest easy Grandpa.\u201d<\/p>\n

Robran\u2019s sons, Matthew and Jonathon, were also good footballers, both having AFL careers.<\/p>\n

Matthew was member of the Crows\u2019 back-to-back flag-winning teams in 1997-98 before retiring in 2001 after 137 games.<\/p>\n

Jonathon\u2019s career also came to an end in 2001 after playing 83 games with Hawthorn and Essendon.<\/p>\n

In a statement, the AFL said \u201cthe Robran name was revered for his on-field feats as a footballer and he would be remembered for his decency and humility as a man\u201d.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe game sends its sincere condolences to wife Taimi and sons Matthew and Jon, and their families, and all of the Robran\u2019s friends and colleagues across the game,\u2019\u2019 AFL chief Andrew Dillon said.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a terribly sad day for South Australian football, as Barrie Robran was the outstanding player in a time when the game was built around state pride, and testing yourselves at a state level against the best from around the country.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhile fans in other states may argue over who were their best-ever players, that same debate has always been absent in Adelaide as any South Australian who saw Robran play simply defers to him as the greatest.\u201d<\/p>\n

<\/p>\n

Radio host rushes off air after death of iconic family member<\/p>\n

2 min read<\/p>\n

<\/a><\/p>\n

Two chilling words made Jeremy Howe \u2018black out\u2019 for 18 hours<\/p>\n

3 min read<\/p>\n

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