SA Footy

This incident is legendary, but did it actually happen? Some say he went to jump the fence but didn't go through with it. When this incident occured (or didn't occur) who was he playing for, Torrens or Woodville? Was it at Thebarton? Anyone got a year, round number and/or score for the match? Was it a telecast game? What made "Mad Dog" upset, some say he was racially abused, some say he had bottles thrown at him or was it a combination of these things or something else all togethor? Did Muir receive any sanction over this?

I was there. From memory it was Robbie Muir's first game back at Thebby since departing from Torrens. The crowd gave him a "rev" up every time he went near the ball. At 1/2 time a Torrens trainer made a smart bum comment and Muir attempted to chase him down the race.

I think it was the last quarter and Muir who was playing fullback jumped the fence in the left pocket at the Northern end. From my spot (safely down on the forward flank) it looked quite funny. Obviously wasn't quite as funny for those in closer quarters because it looked like somebody had let a lion loose on the mound. Muir would shape to move one way and everyone would run away then he would turn the other way and everyone ran away again. I think Robbbie proved it's far easier to be brave when you're over the fence on the mound.

I worked with a bloke who is best mates with muirs' son and we were talking about this incident once. Muir's son reckons that the old man had never copped so much racial abuse in his life and snapped. woodville sacked him after this but in these more enlightened times the outcome probably would have been different

a nutcase pure and simple plus a dirty bastard to boot

I was at his first game for Woodville at Woodville Oval. I used to go to the footy with a mate who's dad was a Torrens supporter. We picked him up on the way to the footy that day, and was playing in the 2's. He belted a couple that day.

stampy wrote:a nutcase pure and simple plus a dirty bastard to boot

Bit harsh stampy. When Muir played, he copped plenty and let his hands reply. Few blokes that played for your mob didn't have an excuse.

The Sleeping Giant wrote:I was at his first game for Woodville at Woodville Oval. I used to go to the footy with a mate who's dad was a Torrens supporter. We picked him up on the way to the footy that day, and was playing in the 2's. He belted a couple that day.

stampy wrote:a nutcase pure and simple plus a dirty bastard to boot

Bit harsh stampy. When Muir played, he copped plenty and let his hands reply. Few blokes that played for your mob didn't have an excuse.

but that's what I liked about him!

I did too.

I was about 12 years old when Robbie jumped the fence. My old man was a trainer at Woodville at the time.He recalls Robbie being injured a couple of weeks before the incident and saying he was saving himself for the Torrens games cause he had a few scores to settle.By memory i think John Roberts got split up fairly early and a couple of others recieved some treatment.I was only a kid at the time,but there was a core group of Torrens lads who were going end to end stiring Muir up a fair bit.Apparantly beer/soft drink can was thrown at him and he lost the plot.I spent alot of time at Woodville growing up as kid,and Muir would always have a kick with the kids.I know a fewformer Woodville and Torrens players and most say he was a good bloke off the field,just an absolute nightmare on it.

Dont know if this is true but apparently Muir was asked if he could promise something like this would never happen again,his answer was NO,Blighty sacked him.

What year did this happen? Was it around 1983 or 84?

83 I think

The Sleeping Giant wrote:I was at his first game for Woodville at Woodville Oval. I used to go to the footy with a mate who's dad was a Torrens supporter. We picked him up on the way to the footy that day, and was playing in the 2's. He belted a couple that day.

stampy wrote:a nutcase pure and simple plus a dirty bastard to boot

Bit harsh stampy. When Muir played, he copped plenty and let his hands reply. Few blokes that played for your mob didn't have an excuse.

i saw him away from football a couple of times, his behaviour wasnt lets say gentlemanly or polite tsg, hence my comments

He was unique on the field, but just an average footballer off it then. :grin:

Hard to believe but he later became an umpire.

Wouldn't argue a decision with him.

DOC wrote:Hard to believe but he later became an umpire.

Whilst undoubtedly a loose cannon as a player.

many moons ago when my oldest was playing school U/11s - at a game the appointed umpire was so bad that kids were getting hurt through his umpiring so halfway through first quarter the two coaches approached the umpire who rather than change left - the coaches agreed that one would take over and gave not only one of the best junior umpiring displays that I ever have seen but he encourage both teams and at the end of the game gave an excellent talk to both teams.

After he finished I went over to congratulate him and was amazed to meet Robbie Muir - I was told later that his quality umpiring was not a once off - interesting side line.

Was friends with his son at primary school, he lived about 2 drop kicks from Glenelg Oval after he retired. Met him a few times and was quite quiet and reserved, I was pretty apprehensive about meeting him knowing his history.

Safer knowing his son, rather than his 17yo daughter!

used to go apeshit when on the piss

stampy wrote:used to go apeshit when on the piss

... and when on the ground.