Along with his nephew Ray (who he has sometimes been confused with), Bob Gordon emerged as one of the finest A Grade players at South during the late 1940s and 1950s.

In combination with the likes of the great Stan Edmonds, Dennis Grigg and Des Patterson, Bob was described as an elegant on-baller with consummate skills. While Ray was a pivotal member of the 1954 and 1955 A Grade premierships, Bob was enticed to join Freeling in 1953 as one of their first imported players for two seasons in the old BLFA, before returning to South to coach the Reserves in 1955 and then the A Grade in 1956.

Bob won the 1947 Best and Fairest major annual trophy for the A Grade. He then won the GFA's best and fairest award, the Page Trophy in 1947 and 1948 and was runner-up in the 1952 Mail Trophy. Gordon also regularly represented the GFA, then the GDFL and the Adelaide Plains leagues. After a celebrated playing career, he was ultimately rewarded with Life Membership in 1961.