Robert John "Rocky" Lane (12 December 1946 – 13 July 1979) was a Victorian police detective who was murdered in the line of duty. He was also an

Australian rules football Australian football, also called Australian rules football or Aussie rules, or more simply football or footy, is a contact sport played between two teams of 18 players on an Australian rules football playing field, oval field, often a modified ...

er who played two senior games with Carlton in the

Victorian Football League The Victorian Football League (VFL) is an Australian rules football competition in Australia operated by the Australian Football League (AFL) as a second-tier, regional, semi-professional competition. It includes teams from clubs based in east ...

(VFL).

Family

The son of George Walter Lane (1910-1968), and Eliza Jean Lane (1915-1977), née Lane, Robert John Lane was born at Kerang, Victoria on 12 December 1946.Stephens, Tony, "Rocky, the Hero Cop ... Why did he have to Die? Friends ask", ''The (Sydney) Sun-Herald'', (Sunday, 15 July 1979), p. 3.
/ref> Lane was married with two children.

Football

Carlton (VFL)

Lane, who hailed from Kerang, had joined the

Victoria Police Victoria Police is the primary law enforcement agency of the Australian States and territories of Australia, state of Victoria (Australia), Victoria. It was formed in 1853 and currently operates under the ''Victoria Police Act 2013''. , Victor ...

before he was recruited to Carlton. Former teammates remember him turning up to training in his police uniform. He managed only the briefest of opportunities at the VFL level, coming on late in the last quarter in both of his appearances.

Williamstown (VFA)

He transferred to Williamstown in the Second Division of the VFA in 1967. His employment meant that he could only play from time to time. In all he played in 39 games, scored 36 goals, over seven seasons (1967-1971, 1974, 1975), including the team that defeated Sunshine, in the Second Division VFA Grand Final, at Toorak Park, on 14 September 1969.

Country football

He later transferred to the country as his police career progressed. Lane was captain-coach of Lake Boga and, later, Lalbert, in the Mid Murray Football League.

Death

On 13 July 1979, while working as a detective senior constable with

, Lane accompanied Daniel Bernard Chapman (who was suspected of stealing a police car) to a campsite across the state border at Kyalite, New South Wales. While Lane was searching the caravan, Chapman shot Lane twice in the head, with a rifle that he (Chapman) had hidden, killing Lane instantly. Following a massive manhunt, involving both Victorian and New South Wales police, the suspect was apprehended seven days later, after he had dumped the police car in the river. He was tried, convicted of murder, and (on 1 July 1980) sentenced to life in prison, and was released 13 years later.

Notes

References

External links

*
Bob Lane's profile
at ''Blueseum''.
Robert John Lane, at ''The VFA Project''.

Victorian Police Blue Ribbon Foundation Honour Roll

National Police Memorial Honour Roll

On This Day - July 13, 1979 - Melbourne Murder Tours
{{DEFAULTSORT:Lane, Bob 1946 births 1979 deaths Carlton Football Club players Williamstown Football Club players Australian police officers killed in the line of duty Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state) People murdered in New South Wales Deaths by firearm in New South Wales 20th-century Australian sportsmen