Vale Robert Oatey

[Brett]

Passed away aged 77 . Famous name and a lovely bloke.

[gadj1976]

Wow, very sad. Legend of our game.

[mots02]

Mentor, former work colleague and proud to have called you a mate.

One of the most selfless and giving people that I ever met.

Thoughts with Raelee, David and Petrea

[Corona Man]

Played golf with him a few times. Lovely bloke. Vale.

[Spargo]

Excellent footballer commentator too.

[locky801]

very sad news, had a few dealings with him when i was coaching Juniors, always willing to help

RIP

[Jimmy_041]

Taught me at Kings College - He was a great bloke and teacher
I was going to see him again at the Kings OC lunch on Thursday

[BoundaryRider84]

Meet him at a coaching clinic..... True gentleman

[Minimum Chips]

Absolute champion!

[mal]

Perhaps one of the best coaches never to win a Premiership at Norwood
Was a great tutor and mentor for the players when he took over as coach in 1968 to 1973
I was there for his first game as coach in 1968 , the first time I supported the NW football club
It was a win
NW 19-13
CD 14-17

NW only won 3 games for the season, all 3 wins against CD
They also drew a game with SA
NW finished bottom in Robert Oateys first stint as coach
His dad Jack Oatey was wracking up flags with Sturt at the same times

One particular memory was Robert Oateys uncanny ability to smother a football
That is to smother the ball from the umpires bounce, which is a no no these days

He really was a great footballer, he was 2nd to Barrie Robran in the 1968 Magarey Medal
Barrie polled 22 votes, I have no records of how many votes Robert Oatey polled
NA ended up 3rd in the minor round with 14 wins
Norwood as mentioned last with 3.5 wins
Robert was there4 Captain Coach in his first season for NW and runner up in the medal
Runner up to perhaps the greatest footballer to have played in the SANFL
That shows just how good a rover/forward pocket Robert Oatey was

Been informed that Robert Oatey attended the NW V NA SANFL grand Final last year
His love for football apparent very late in his life

Robert did taste Premiership success playing for Sturt in 1974 and continued with Sturt until 1978
Fittingly his flag honour was with his father Jack Oatey as coach
Robert Oatey excellent coach, great footballer , from a great family of footballers of the Oatey name

[nwdfanparade]

Robert's coaching record at Norwood

1968 10th
1969 9th
1970 5th
1971 5th
1972 4th
1973 4th

Who knows, perhaps if he had coach a few more years he may have improved enough to win a Premiership.
RIP Robert.

Addendum
According to my research, 13 players in Norwood's 1976 Premiership played under Robert Oatey. I think he could be credited with laying the foundation of that year's premiership.

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