BIO
Robert (Rocky) Anderson was born on 15 October 1945 and attended Wellington Road Primary School (now Trinity Gardens) a school that was attended by a number of boys who played for Norwood, namely, the Woodcocks, Oateys, John Hillman and Ross Porritt. He also attended Norwood Boys Technical High School (Marryatville High now) and remembers Wally Miller, in his playing days, giving coaching clinics at the school.
Rocky began his Norwood journey in 1961 playing two years in the under 17s followed by two years in the under 19s. He was captain of the under 19s in 1964 and gained selection in both the Under 17 and Under 19 state representative teams. A highlight was playing the Victorian under 19s on the MCG as a curtain raiser to the Victoria vs Western Australia state game. WA was captained/coached by Hadyn Bunton Jnr who was to become the Norwood senior coach the next year in 1965.
Rocky was a member of the 1966 reserves premiership team kicking four goals in the Grand Final against Port Adelaide.
He progressed to Norwood’s League side in 1965. He played mainly as a forward and ruck rover for 34 games until he injured his knee in the opening game of the 1968 season. He never represented Norwood again because of that injury.
After a year and a half out of footy trying to rehab the knee, Rocky decided his footy days were finished at 22 years of age.
In 1969 he was invited by some old mates to play for the Maylands Methodist Church team in the SA Church Association partway through the season when the team was short of players. Rocky was placed at full forward and could not train due to knee soreness; however the less intense pace and tackling etc allowed him to contribute. In 13 matches he kicked 97 goals and was runner up in the association best and fairest medal; the team also winning the flag.
With some renewed confidence he applied and was appointed playing coach of Hope Valley FC for 1970, 1971, and 1973. His team finished third in 1970 and Rocky was runner up in the association medal playing as a forward.
In 1971 he lead the team to a premiership undefeated. Rocky played half back and found playing defence meant less stress on the knee.
1972 saw an attempted comeback at Norwood, however after pre-season training and a couple of home trials he realized his knee was not up to the more intense training and pressure.
On returning to Hope Valley he ruptured an ACL in a trial and missed the whole season. He did play on from 1973 to 1975 until he retired.
An aspiring young player who only ever wanted to wear the Norwood jumper, Rocky Anderson’s promising Norwood career was unfortunately cut short.