Dylan Roberton

[stkildathunda]

ST KILDA has made former Fremantle defender Dylan Roberton the AFL's latest delisted free agent signing, Robertson having boarded a plane to join the Saints at their altitude camp in Colorado.​

Roberton, 21, has been recruited to help out St Kilda's stocks of taller defenders, an area the Saints were unable to redress during the trade period when they sought to acquire Mitch Brown from West Coast. Roberton, who is 191cm, managed 10 games for the Dockers this year, for a career tally of 37 over three years.​

Roberton's move to the Saints will be a homecoming of sorts, given that he played his junior footy at a local club in Frankston, near St Kilda's Seaford base. Roberton has been training with the Saints.​

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St Kilda's signing of Roberton - who, in effect, is the last player on the club's senior list - follows the signing as delisted free agents of former Geelong players Tom Gillies and Jonathan Simpkin, who signed with Melbourne and Hawthorn respectively.​

Roberton can play on both talls and smalls, but has not shown the body strength to man the bigger bodied forwards. He fared relatively well in the 2011 season, his second, when he managed 14 games for the Dockers before an ankle injury hampered him late in the season.​

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Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/homecoming-of-sorts-as-roberton-joins-st-kilda-20121129-2ahs7.html#ixzz2DZrv6KU0​

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[stkildathunda]

http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/87120/default.aspx

Height: 190cm
Weight: 78kg
DOB: 21/06/91
Recruited from: Frankston/Dandenong Stingrays

Bio: Rebounding defender with good skills by both hand and foot. Decision making when in possession is a highlight. Outstanding endurance with 14.6 beep test at Draft Camp and backed up with 10.13mins for 3km (top 10 per cent). Averaged 18 disposals and five marks for the Stingrays at 70 per cent efficiency.

In his own words
What type of player are you?
A hard running half-back flanker who can read the play well and chop off incoming ball and then set up the attack with the rebound. Zone off direct opponent when needed.

Which AFL player do you feel you resemble, and why?
Andrew Mackie. I play a similar role to the team with run out of defence and hitting up players. Also can play on small or tall forwards.

What are your strengths as a footballer?
Ability to read the play, skills on both sides of my body, leadership and aerobic capacity.

What parts of your game would you like to improve?
Speed, body size and strength.

Which AFL team do you support and how did you come to barrack for them?
Hawthorn. Members of my family followed the Hawks.

Who has been the biggest influence on your career so far, and why?
My mum Amanda Roberton. She has given up her time to put it towards my football. He left work early all those years to take me to training.

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Didn't realise he was only 21 or that he was 190cms.

Is hard enough at it.

Seems pretty flexible.

 

[stkildathunda]

Didn't realise he was only 21 or that he was 190cms.

Is hard enough at it.

Seems pretty flexible.

Its not like we have hundred 190+ defenders on our list, we need depth in this area and this is where he comes into it. Be a handy pickup, espeically as costs us nothing!

 

[saintsrfreak]

If he can play on smalls then he could release Geary into the midfield.

 

[cartel]

I'm not sure he provides much assistance in terms of tall backs, I think we need a full back a couple of inches taller.

He'll definitely assist in helping to push the competition for Gram's spot.

Welcome

 

[Look2Me4Guidance]

Its not like we have hundred 190+ defenders on our list, we need depth in this area and this is where he comes into it. Be a handy pickup, espeically as costs us nothing!

I agree. He needs to stick with Dempster in Boulder. Perfect mentor for him.

 

[Armitage2Riewoldt]

For those still struggling to put a face to a name:

Considering the exodus of HBF's we're had this year (Goddard, Gram, Cripps, Clarke, Winmar) it's probably not the worst signing. Again fits the age bracket we're somewhat lacking....and he was taken in the 2009 draft! All is somewhat not lost from that draft.

Welcome to the Saints bro.

 

[mysainters]

I like this move...I think he could be something.

Agree that he has timed this well given the exodus of similar types.

 

[pavsbootlace]

Very good pickup for you guys. He was 190cm when drafted, I suspect he's a couple of cm taller than that now. With a few more kilos on his frame, I reckon he could even become the next Sam Fischer. At worst the next Sam Gilbert. He's slow off the mark so he's not great on nippy small forwards but he can run all day and he defends very well and is a great user of the ball under pressure.

Give him some time though, he's not the finished product yet.

 

[Dudley Leopard]

I think you blokes will be pleasantly surprised by Dylan. Great endurance and cool in a tight spot. Well done.

 

[Persevering Saint]

When a face palm just doesn't go far enough.

Not happy, Jan.

 

[mysainters]

Leave Bob alone I say!

 

[Burgermeister]

Some highlights.

 

[mysainters]

I'm thinking replacement for Gram...

He can kick nicely, has good poise, his body is starting to catch up to his ability.

I've watched him, and I think there is something there.

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Its not like we have hundred 190+ defenders on our list, we need depth in this area and this is where he comes into it. Be a handy pickup, espeically as costs us nothing!

Jay Lever
Sam Gilbert
Tom Simpkin
Sam Fisher
Sean Dempster
Sam Dunnel
Arryn Sippos (supposedly )
Jason Blake ( his opponents swear he's more than 190 )
Staley ( has apparently done some work in the back )
Fergason

No not 100.

 

[sammm]

Very good pickup for you guys. He was 190cm when drafted, I suspect he's a couple of cm taller than that now. With a few more kilos on his frame, I reckon he could even become the next Sam Fischer. At worst the next Sam Gilbert. He's slow off the mark so he's not great on nippy small forwards but he can run all day and he defends very well and is a great user of the ball under pressure.

Give him some time though, he's not the finished product yet.

I like that bit. we needs guys who are good ball users under pressure.

 

[adambrown]

Jay Lever
Sam Gilbert
Tom Simpkin
Sam Fisher
Sean Dempster
Sam Dunnel
Arryn Sippos (supposedly )
Jason Blake ( his opponents swear he's more than 190 )
Staley ( has apparently done some work in the back )
Fergason

No not 100.

Blake and Fisher get injured again and its slim pickings 2 rookies, a development player (lever), Simpkin, Dunnel and Siposs all played under 20 games. Roberton should make it a healthy comp for spots between the boys

 

[SaintsSeptember]

Slow off the mark worries me a bit.

I just read a news thing on Barlow (2010) where Barlow came second to Roberton in the 2Km time trial ( with Roberton breaking the club record ).
Top 10 in the beep test at his draft combine.
5th in the 3Km run for that combine ( won by 2nd Gear , top Gear's ( Jarryn's ) brother ).

So he's agile and has a big tank. Big tank often means he's put the work in at a young age and that can be a good thing.
Might be the next Jason Blake for the club, and thats not a bad thing.
My main concern is his lack of 1%'s in his AFL stats.

I'm not going to bag him at all as a player. It just seems strange when you consider the actual needs of the club.

 

[Squizz]

Jay Lever
Sam Gilbert
Tom Simpkin
Sam Fisher
Sean Dempster
Sam Dunnel
Arryn Sippos (supposedly )
Jason Blake ( his opponents swear he's more than 190 )
Staley ( has apparently done some work in the back )
Fergason

No not 100.

I don't know much about Robertson, but if he's played a quite a few games, is athletic, and can kick, he does replace quite a lot of guys who have come off the list in terms of similar type (Goddard, Gram, Winmar, Peake, Polo, Clarke). I don't see either of Shenton or Webster (also similar) being likely in 2013.

Agree with Siposs and Dunell, although personally I prefer them closer to our goals.

It seems the club likes the idea of Gilbert further up the ground.

Blake and Simpkin play very different roles. Lever is a 200cm project player!

Staley isn't a defender at this stage (nor is anywhere near ready to play AFL).

Ferguson needs to do a fair bit of work on his kicking along with getting alot more game experience (and is a rookie anyway).

 

[SaintWWodonga]

He comes on the list in replace of Winmar. Question: Is it an upgrade? Time will tell. At least played more senior games...

 

[stkildathunda]

Jay Lever
Sam Gilbert
Tom Simpkin
Sam Fisher
Sean Dempster
Sam Dunnel
Arryn Sippos (supposedly )
Jason Blake ( his opponents swear he's more than 190 )
Staley ( has apparently done some work in the back )
Fergason

No not 100.

Yes theres a couple but Siposs/Dunell arent really defenders like Roberton. Lever & Staley long way off and probably question marks around Ferguson still.

Blake/Fisher only have couple years left, Dempster nearing the end aswell. We need some 24-25 year old mature defenders on list for when they are no longer playing. Good list management I reckon, keeping eye on future aswell as now.

 

[stkildathunda]

http://www.saints.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/5315/newsid/151916/default.aspx

St Kilda Football Club can confirm that it will secure former Fremantle Dockers player Dylan Roberton to fill its final list position when the third Free Agency period commences on Friday 30 November.

The 21 year old defender played ten games with the Dockers this season for a total of 37 games since being recruited in the 2009 AFL National Draft.

Roberton has been training with St Kilda since mid-November and will travel to the USA to join the rest of the Saints playing group for the altitude training camp in Boulder.

 

[StFly]

Slow off the mark worries me a bit.

I just read a news thing on Barlow (2010) where Barlow came second to Roberton in the 2Km time trial ( with Roberton breaking the club record ).
Top 10 in the beep test at his draft combine.
5th in the 3Km run for that combine ( won by 2nd Gear , top Gear's ( Jarryn's ) brother ).

So he's agile and has a big tank. Big tank often means he's put the work in at a young age and that can be a good thing.
Might be the next Jason Blake for the club, and thats not a bad thing.
My main concern is his lack of 1%'s in his AFL stats.

I'm not going to bag him at all as a player. It just seems strange when you consider the actual needs of the club.

Whilst not disputing stats, Freo's base is Subi which is largely conditioned for less contests due to the size of the ground and thus less opportunity to amass stats attributed to these stats than say Sydney & ANZ/SCG. So there's simply a lot of variables which may influence how a person plays on a particular day on a particular ground.

 

[Sunshine Saint]

Very good pickup for you guys. He was 190cm when drafted, I suspect he's a couple of cm taller than that now. With a few more kilos on his frame, I reckon he could even become the next Sam Fischer. At worst the next Sam Gilbert. He's slow off the mark so he's not great on nippy small forwards but he can run all day and he defends very well and is a great user of the ball under pressure.

Give him some time though, he's not the finished product yet.

Good feedback. Thanks