“He was as tough and hard a player as has ever worn the green and gold.”  This was part of a vivid description of Rob Phillips, recited in greater detail in this article, by a longstanding club supporter.  His is the next profile in this series. 

“Rob was as tough and hard a player as has ever worn the green and gold.  His totally uncompromising straight-ahead style brought fear to the hearts of his opponents – it was the only way he knew to play the game.  His fearless attack on the footy was inspirational and with a build to match, he was at his best crashing into packs with a zeal that had supporters roaring with appreciation.”

Rob Phillips is a modest, unassuming fellow who probably would not agree with these sentiments yet they graphically capture the essence of his game.  They were expressed by a longstanding Trinity supporter and given Rob’s nomination as Captain of the Club’s Team of the Century”, are apparently shared by many others of similar maturity.  Leading by example was one of many characteristics behind Rob’s nomination for that position.

Rob played for Old Trinity from 1989 – 2003, in premiership teams in 1989 (Under 19s) and in B Grade in 1992, 1996 and 1999, and as Captain from 1997 – 2002.  He topped the Seniors goal kicking in 1992 (with 69 goals) before it was recognized that his style of play was better suited to a key defensive role. 

Old Trinity has former Seniors coach Mark Walters to thank for Rob’s services.  According to Rob, “Mark was that bloody persistent when I was training with Collingwood Under 19s, agreeing to play with Old Trinity was the only way I could get him to stop ringing me - that my brother and all my mates were playing there had nothing to do with it!”

He recalls the highlights of his years as a player:

·         Most memorable social occasion – “Bali football trip in 1996, plenty of very funny video footage on that trip!”

·         Most memorable game – “1999 B Grade Grand Final”

·         Best Old Trinity player – “Sorry, can’t name just one – try Rob Elphingstone, Alan Johnson, Andrew Allibon, Trevor Norman and Andrew Ramsden.”

·         Funniest incident – “Anything to do with Lex Taylor.”

Rob is a little more forthcoming on coaches:

“All my coaches were good but if I had to pick one as the best it would be Ed Best, the coach in my memorable game with the Thirds.  A great win Eddie!” 

“Eddie rates a lot higher than Syd Myers who considered us soft private school boys just mere ‘park ants running around’.  It would have been good to play under Max Trotter who considered Trevor Norman “a bloody passenger” - Max was obviously a great judge of character!”

Such is the tongue-in-cheek, jocular, conversational style of Rob Phillips.  It is difficult to tell when he is serious but reasonable to assume not often - just one more of the characteristics that has made him such a highly regarded and well liked personality at Old Trinity.

Today, Rob is aged 37 years in a business called JHL Civil in Melbourne, installing pipelines for water authorities and civil contractors.  He is married to Donna and they have two beautiful daughters, one aged two years and the other three months.  We look forward to seeing him at one or matches at Bulleen during the season.