Dylan Roberton may retire due to heart condition.

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Roberton's agonising career decision
By Michael Gleeson
March 14, 2019 — 5.23pm

A decision on the playing future of St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton after a second heart issue during a match last week, is set to be made on Friday afternoon.
Roberton has met with his cardiologist and club doctors this week to analyse scans and data after his heart scare during Sunday's practice match against the Western Bulldogs and discussed his playing future with the heart problem he has.
 
It’s the best thing for his health & quality of life.

Some talk on the Saints board that McCartin might pull the plug also after getting another concussion.
 

nineteen eighty

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I have the same issue as him with an ICD implanted to run the heart. Firstly, I cannot play any contact sports and secondly, it is restrictive with how high I can get my heartrate. Emma Carney has the same issue. I was blown away when he came back and not surprised he is experiencing issues at high exertion. He may well be able to play again but it will take the heart electo specialists a couple of years to tune the device correctly along with balancing his meds.

Gutsy effort by him to date. He's alive after having what is a significant life threatening issue.
 

TwiggleyFanClub

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Poor bugger. You hate to hear about anyone having those sorts of issues.
Just like those guys who just always seem to get concussed.
Not worth their health or even their lives. :-(
 
I have the same issue as him with an ICD implanted to run the heart. Firstly, I cannot play any contact sports and secondly, it is restrictive with how high I can get my heartrate. Emma Carney has the same issue. I was blown away when he came back and not surprised he is experiencing issues at high exertion. He may well be able to play again but it will take the heart electo specialists a couple of years to tune the device correctly along with balancing his meds.

Gutsy effort by him to date. He's alive after having what is a significant life threatening issue.
Thanks for that - good to hear an experienced perspective.

Really sucks for Dylan, he's a watchable player was was BOG in JLT2 against us. Any chance he takes a few months off and doctors find a way to keep the condition in check? I know it's different but both Stephenson and Eagleton had (different) heart issues and don't seem to have problems.
From memory Eagleton had SVT, I have the same thing and am getting an ablation shortly which will only keep me out of the gym for two weeks.
 
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Of course Robbo's health is top priority, from a St Kilda perspective this only adds to what is shaping up as another annus horriblius for the Saints, given Carlisle is also out, Steven is uncertain.

He is one of our best players, his JLT form was terrific. I was a bit more optimistic after JLT that we might avoid bottom four, but can't see it now.
 

The Jack

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This season is fast becoming a horror show for the Saints. And we thought last year was tough. Hope Robbo can stay involved at some level. His health and young family should be his number 1 priority now.
 

TigerTime_89

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Of course Robbo's health is top priority, from a St Kilda perspective this only adds to what is shaping up as another annus horriblius for the Saints, given Carlisle is also out, Steven is uncertain.

He is one of our best players, his JLT form was terrific. I was a bit more optimistic after JLT that we might avoid bottom four, but can't see it now.
Stranger things have happened....
 
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Have heard a few reports of him being a really quality guy beyond on field influence. Saints fans might have a better idea on it. Hoping he will be put to good use around the club with the year it looks like they are set for.

Glad he made this call.
 

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I find it bizarre that both Robbo and McCartin are so averse to just saying 'nup, no thanks' and retiring.

Roberton tried playing again in the pre-season and was feeling stuttery and dizzy straight after the game. Isn't that signal enough?

He's played 130 games and for a while was nearly All Australian. Pretty tidy footballer who, if he played for bigger clubs, would've been very well renowned. I was angry when he pissed off to St Kilda after getting his girlfriend pregnant, but that's the thing – he has three young children and a partner. Why risk not seeing them grow and live a life, just to play more football? I'm sure the Saints would give him a job.

McCartin has achieved far, far less but he has much, much more to risk. He's like, what, 21? And he's had eight concussions. It's insane. People should be worried already. What's the limit? Ten? Retire dude. Enjoy your youth and go down as a 'what coulda been.'
 

Silent Alarm

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People saying 'oh it's such a tough decision' and 'ahh must be hard for him.' You're almost being complicit. The guy has collapsed due to his heart and clearly can't even sprint for long, let alone play an entire AFL season.

And people saying it's brave... no way. It's dumb.

Brave is knocking your knee back into its socket, going back with the flight, or winning the Melbourne Cup

He's also been concussed a few times himself. I remember when he got completely shitmixed a few years ago. Me and my housemates were drinking beers at the time watching this game and I remember we all went completely quiet... we actually expected him to fall straight back down. I'm pretty sure he ended up back on the ground too.


Seriously, what's it going to take? Football is fun, you make great money, but the club is still going to give you some coaching gig on 100k. And ya know, surely a full life – where you don't pass out, fall over, get disoriented, develop brain issues – is more important than winning a flag or playing 200 games.
 

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This season is fast becoming a horror show for the Saints. And we thought last year was tough. Hope Robbo can stay involved at some level. His health and young family should be his number 1 priority now.

I thought our pre season was going south personnel wise but you guys are copping it horrendously.
 

nineteen eighty

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Thanks for that - good to hear an experienced perspective.

Really sucks for Dylan, he's a watchable player was was BOG in JLT2 against us. Any chance he takes a few months off and doctors find a way to keep the condition in check? I know it's different but both Stephenson and Eagleton had (different) heart issues and don't seem to have problems.
From memory Eagleton had SVT, I have the same thing and am getting an ablation shortly which will only keep me out of the gym for two weeks.

They may be able to keep it in check but it takes time to tune the device (and balance his meds at the same time). I dont know to what level the ICD runs his heart (mine relies on the device 100% of the time). When the heart goes off (races over 200 beats PM...sometimes 250), the device pings the heart to correct it. If not able to correct, he will get a defibrillator shock. He is at risk twofold:

1/ knocks to the device which may impact it (catastrophic)
2. The device shocks him cause it thinks his heart is racing.

Either option is not good.

Ablation...good luck with it. Have they considered an ICD for you?
 
They may be able to keep it in check but it takes time to tune the device (and balance his meds at the same time). I dont know to what level the ICD runs his heart (mine relies on the device 100% of the time). When the heart goes off (races over 200 beats PM...sometimes 250), the device pings the heart to correct it. If not able to correct, he will get a defibrillator shock. He is at risk twofold:

1/ knocks to the device which may impact it (catastrophic)
2. The device shocks him cause it thinks his heart is racing.

Either option is not good.

Ablation...good luck with it. Have they considered an ICD for you?
Thanks for that.

No ICD needed, the ablation should fix it. I still do a truckload of exercise (gym 4-5 times per week, on the bike every day etc) with no real issues. A prolonged heart episode can put me in hospital but that's three times in 7 years, ablation should stop the events completely.
 

Tranquilli37

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Interesting watching that video. Did Jonas get any weeks? Passed the ball and went the player. Cant recall the outcome.
 
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