Gene Robinson kicks 1000th career goal in Millicent’s Western Border Football League grand final win

Millicent maestro Gene Robinson sat on 999 goals in the dying moments of the grand final before a fairytale finish to his journey to a massive milestone.

When the ball spilt to Gene Robinson with less than a minute remaining in the Western Border Football League grand final last Saturday it felt like fate.

The game was won but the Millicent maestro – sitting on 999 career goals – had one more piece of magic to add.

Robinson gathered expertly and in a flash snapped around his body to sail the ball through the posts like he has done so many times before.

Not only did it put the icing on the cake for a brilliant Saints premiership over South Gambier, the goal was the 28-year-old’s 1000th career major and took him into rarefied air in country football.

Millicent celebrates winning the Western Border Football League grand final win over South Gambier. Picture: Thomas Miles

Robinson, who joined Millicent this season from Broughton-Mundoora, said the milestone was something he would look back on fondly but a premiership was even more important.

He became the 26th country footballer to achieve the feat, according to historian Peter Lines.

“You don’t really keep count I guess, you just go out and play footy,” Robinson said.

“We were probably underdogs with South only losing two games for the year.

“Our first win earlier in the year was the club’s first win in about 900 days with not playing last year and not winning any in 2019.

“So for the club to not only start winning but to get a flag first year back after Covid was great. I can’t speak highly enough of the supporters and everyone that were there, they really enjoyed it.”

The premiership was Robinson’s third straight as an individual after going back-to-back with Broughton-Mundoora in the Northern Areas Football Association the past two seasons.

Millicent's Gene Robinson kicks his 100th goal of the 2021 season. Picture: Thomas Miles

Robinson is swarmed by teammates after kicking his 100th goal. Picture: Thomas Miles

When you think of country footy goal-kicking machines the big, burly full forward type comes to mind.

That’s not the case for Robinson, who said: “I’m only a small fella – I think I tap out at about 178cm”.

Instead his impressive footy smarts and ability by foot is what has propelled him to be one of the state’s most prolific goal kickers over the past decade.

Robinson booted 116 majors this season – the fifth time he has surpassed the 100-goal milestone so elusive for most footballers.

The Murray Bridge native first reached the ton as a 19-year-old in 2013 playing for Mypolonga before having a crack at the SANFL with the Crows the following year.

Robinson played 12 league games for the Crows’ SANFL side in 2014. Picture: Sam Wundke

Gene Robinson (right) playing for Broughton-Mundoora in the Northern Areas Football Association in 2019. Picture: Dennis Green

In 2015 he moved to Bordertown and promptly booted 107, followed by back-to-back centuries for Mannum in 2016 and 2017.

Robinson, who said he had followed mates around in his travels to several country clubs, put it down to his teammates.

“As a forward you’re only as good as your midfield,” he said.

“It’s always nice to get an individual honour like that.

“I first got it when I was 19 and then it was something I was pretty keen on doing.

“But as you get older, it’s in the back of your mind a little bit but you play for premierships.”

Robinson’s footy journey took him to Millicent this season after his partner got a job in nearby Mount Burr and the couple made the move to the South East.

He said Saints coach Clint Gallio played him deep and “gave me the reins of the forward line”, setting up his push for another big-scoring season.

“It’s pretty hard to kick goals in the South East given the nature of the weather and all that,” he said.

“The forwards and mids we have are really talented so I got some good delivery throughout the year.

“No one has kicked 100 for Millicent in about 70 or 80 years so I think the locals enjoyed it a bit more than I did.”

Robinson’s 100-goal season was not only a drought-breaker for the club, he became just the second player since the turn of the century to reach the ton in the WBFL, joining North Gambier’s Justin McConnell.

Millicent won the grand final 12.11 (83) to South Gambier’s 7.6 (48) and added to their 2018 WBFL premiership.