Congratulations to Laura Robertson who will play in her 100th game on the weekend.
What a massive milestone we have come to, 100 senior games to my best friend Laura Robbo.
It’s crazy to think that we started playing footy together in 2012, 14 years ago. We were just two 13/14 yr olds obsessed with footy, wanting to play as much as we could, showing up the boys until we aged out and then meeting at youth girls with no idea what the future held. Our passion of footy is how our friendship kicked off, and then over the years we’ve truely been inseparable. Like the ‘Batman and Robbo(in), type inseperable. Everything has always been better when you’re there, on and off field.
On field, I feel at ease knowing you’re there, after so long of playing together we really get each other. Your footy sense and strength is so classy. You are such a tough and skilled and reliable player, you were made to play footy. And you’re not just a positive vibrance on the field but you carry that through the culture at the club as well. I know I’ve always said this and I’ll say it again, I think you are the best player that I’ve ever played alongside and please believe me I feel this so deeply I’m not too biased, your accolades run true. Every season it’s amazing to watch you just get better, and it shows in your stats and many achievements. Over juniors and seniors Laura has had many best and fairests, runners ups, best on grounds, team of the years, rep team, vflw, and more. To name them all i’d be here for ages, but one of the most notable being the best on ground in our 2017 grand final, because Laura was still playing junior footy that year and had played only 5 senior games that year to qualify for it, that’s just insane.
Off field, I also feel at ease when you’re there. I’ll never forget little us walking to footy trainings after school, and when we spent all school holidays together making the funniest videos, and our weekly power plant dates, and travelling north and central America together. We’ve seen all sides of eachother and I am most grateful of you being there for me whenever I’ve needed, the list of the best times of my life largely include you and for that I am very lucky. To share such a long aligned footy career together is so special to me and I hope we can say that there’ll be a hundred more to come.
Congratulations and all the best Junior, big happy 100 games to you, love you endlessly, and I cannot wait to celebrate with you this Saturday.
Ty Zagontinos
As Laura’s sister, I’ve had the privilege of watching her journey from the very beginning. Before women’s football was what it is today, Junior was out there proving she belonged. Playing junior footy with the boys before also taking on youth girls football, she developed the toughness, skill and footy IQ that have become trademarks of her game.
It didn’t take long for the Marcellin community to realise what kind of player they’d gained. In our inaugural women’s season in 2017, she was named Best on Ground in the Grand Final as we celebrated the club’s first women’s premiership. Since then, she’s added a couple of club Best and Fairest’s, 2018 VAFA Rising Star, earned a spot in the Big V squad, multiple VAFA Team of the Year awards and most recently, Sheagles Team of the Decade.
Watching Laura play, it’s easy to understand why she’s so highly regarded. She has an incredible ability to make the game slow down around her. Under pressure, she always seems to have time – very Pendlebury-like. Whether it’s her quick hands, strength around the contest, smart decision-making or knowing exactly where to position herself, she has a knack for making everyone around her better. If you can’t see her on the field, you’ll no doubt hear her. She’s constantly talking, encouraging and leading her teammates.
Off the field, she’s exactly the same person. She has this amazing ability to make everyone feel welcome. Walk into any club function and you’ll find her chatting to someone she’s never met before like they’ve been friends for years. She somehow knows everyone, and if she doesn’t, she will by the end of the night. That’s just who she is – welcoming, genuine and always making people feel like they belong.
I’ve always been incredibly proud of everything Laura has achieved – not just because of the footballer she is, but because of the person she’s become. She’s someone her teammates trust, players look up to and someone the club is incredibly lucky to have. We’ve been fortunate enough to share so much of our football journey together, and that’s something I’ll always be grateful for.
Congratulations on reaching 100 games, Junior. Thank you for everything you’ve given to Marcellin over the years. It’s been an absolute privilege to watch your journey and an even greater privilege to share so much of it alongside you. Go well, sis!!!
Georgina Robertson
