| Bob Skilton | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Personal information | |||
| Full name | Robert John Skilton | ||
| Nickname(s) | "Chimp" | ||
| Date of birth | 8 November 1938 | ||
| Original team(s) | South Melbourne Under 17s | ||
| Height | 171 cm (5 ft 7 in) | ||
| Weight | 76 kg (168 lb) | ||
| Position(s) | Rover | ||
| Playing career1 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (Goals) | |
| 1956–1971 | South Melbourne | 237 (412) | |
| Representative team honours | |||
| Years | Team | Games (Goals) | |
| Victoria | 25 (47) | ||
| Coaching career3 | |||
| Years | Club | Games (W–L–D) | |
| 1965–1966 | South Melbourne | 35 (16–19–0) | |
| 1974–1977 | Melbourne | 88 (28–60–0) | |
| Total | 123 (44–79–0) | ||
|
1 Playing statistics correct to the end of 1971. 3 Coaching statistics correct as of 1977. | |||
| Career highlights | |||
|
Club
Representative
| |||
| Sources: AFL Tables, AustralianFootball.com | |||
Robert John Skilton OAM (born 8 November 1938) is a former Australian rules footballer who represented South Melbourne in the Victorian Football League (VFL).
Playing as a rover, Skilton is one of only four players to have won the Brownlow Medal three times—in 1959 (when he tied with Verdun Howell), 1963 and 1968. His Brownlow record is shared by Fitzroy's Haydn Bunton, Sr (1931, 1932, 1935), Essendon's Dick Reynolds (1934, 1937, 1938) and St Kildaand Richmond Tigers Ian Stewart (Australian rules footballer)|Ian Stewart]] (1965, 1966, 1971).
He was rated by Jack Dyer as better than Haydn Bunton, Sr and equal to Dick Reynolds, making him one of the best players in the history of the game. In September 2023 Skilton was elevated to Legend status in the Sport Australia Hall of Fame, only the 4th AFL player to achieve the honour.[1]
The Sydney Swans Best and Fairest medal is named after him; the Bob Skilton Medal.