Robert Harvey (footballer)
A St Kila saint whose breathtaking endurance and sublime skills made him the club's games record holder and a two-time Brownlow medalist.
Born 1971 (age 55)·Australian rules footballer, born 1971·Birthday: August 21·Generation X
Biography
Robert Harvey didn't just play for St Kilda; he embodied its spirit for 21 seasons. From his debut as a skinny teenager, he evolved into the engine room of the team, a midfielder whose combination of relentless running, precise foot skills, and fierce courage set a new standard. In an era where two-way running became essential, Harvey was its prototype, covering more ground than seemed humanly possible. His individual accolades, including back-to-back Brownlow Medals, never overshadowed his team-first mentality, though a premiership remained the elusive prize in his storied career. After hanging up his boots as the club's games record holder, he seamlessly moved into coaching, lending his hard-earned wisdom to clubs like Carlton, Collingwood, and eventually returning to St Kilda, completing a football life lived almost entirely in the red, white, and black.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Robert was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the Brownlow Medal in 1997 and 1998, recognizing him as the AFL's best and fairest player.
- Played a club-record 383 games for St Kilda between 1988 and 2008.
- Was selected as an All-Australian eight times, a testament to his sustained elite performance.
- Inducted into the Australian Football Hall of Fame in 2012 and elevated to 'Legend' status in 2023.
Did You Know?
He is the older brother of former AFL player and coach Mark Harvey.
Known for his incredible fitness, he famously won the St Kilda time trial for 17 consecutive years.
His nickname 'Banger' originated from a childhood love of sausages.
He served as the caretaker senior coach of Collingwood for nine matches in the 2021 season.
“I just loved running all day, getting the ball, and kicking it to a teammate.”
