Dylan Roberton
{{short description|Australian rules footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2015}}
{{Use Australian English|date=September 2015}}
{{Infobox AFL biography
| name = Dylan Roberton
| image = Dylan Roberton 2017.1.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = Roberton playing for St Kilda in June 2017
| fullname = Dylan Roberton
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1991|6|21|df=yes}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| originalteam = Dandenong Stingrays (TAC Cup)
| draftpick = No. 49, 2009 National Draft, {{AFL Fre}}
| height = 194 cm
| weight = 88 kg
| position = Defender
| years1 = 2010–2012
| club1 = {{AFL Fre}}
| games_goals1 = 37 (5)
| years2 = 2013–2020
| club2 = {{AFL Stk}}
| games_goals2 = 92 (15)
| games_goalstotal = 129 (20)
| statsend = 2020
| careerhighlights =
}}
Dylan Roberton (born 21 June 1991) is a former Australian rules footballer who played for the Fremantle and St Kilda Football Club in the Australian Football League (AFL). He was selected with the 49th selection in the 2009 AFL National Draft from the Dandenong Stingrays in the TAC Cup by {{AFL Fre}}.[https://web.archive.org/web/20091122125808/http://www.afl.com.au/news/newsarticle/tabid/208/newsid/87120/default.aspx Draft profile from AFL.com.au]
Playing career
=Career with Fremantle (2010–12)=
Roberton started the 2010 season playing for East Perth in the WAFL and was named to make his AFL debut for Fremantle in the Round 6 Western Derby.[http://au.news.yahoo.com/thewest/a/-/mp/7140884/freo-throw-another-tyro-into-derby-fray/ Freo throw another tyro into derby fray]
In 2011 he was used as Fremantle's first ever substitute player in their opening round match against the Brisbane Lions, replacing Rhys Palmer in the third quarter.[http://www.adelaidenow.com.au/sport/afl/the-afls-new-bench-system-quickly-reveals-that-the-longer-games-go-this-season-the-more-they-will-open-up/story-e6freck3-1226029099426 The AFL's new bench system quickly reveals that the longer games go this season, the more they will open up]
=Career with St Kilda (2013–2021)=
At the end of the 2012 season, Roberton requested a trade from the Dockers to a Melbourne-based team. When a trade did not eventuate he was delisted by Fremantle and then invited to train with St Kilda. He was signed as a "delisted free agent" on 30 November 2012 by the Saints.
In 2017, Roberton was named in the 40-man All-Australian team squad as one of the best rebounding defenders in the league. Roberton also capped a brilliant season, finishing second in the Trevor Barker Award. He also extended his contract for another four years, until the end of the 2021 season.{{cite news|last1=Spits|first1=Scott|title=St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton recommits for four seasons|url=http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/st-kilda-defender-dylan-roberton-recommits-for-four-seasons-20170906-gyc9zo.html|access-date=13 November 2017|work=The Age|date=6 September 2017}}
In Round 4 2018, Roberton collapsed on the field in a game against Geelong at Kardinia Park. It was determined that Roberton was suffering from a heart condition, and he was unable to retake the field.{{Cite web|date=2018-04-16|title=St Kilda's Dylan Roberton set for series of tests after scary on-field collapse|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2018-04-16/st-kilda-dylan-roberton-set-for-more-tests-after-scary-collapse/9662938|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}} Roberton’s heart rate had soared to around 300 beats per minute which is more than 100 beats per minute beyond the max heart rate of a person of his age.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-18|title=St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton to return to St Kilda's leadership group ahead of imminent AFL return|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/st-kilda-defender-dylan-roberton-to-return-to-st-kildas-leadership-group-ahead-of-imminent-afl-return/news-story/bd2828c1d0cf9685d48dd15fe78b832b|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Fox Sports|language=en}} Roberton ultimately did not return to football in 2018. In a pre-season game in 2019 in Ballarat, Roberton felt unwell and missed the rest of the match. He did not play the 2019 season.
Roberton returned to the leadership group ahead of the 2020 season.{{Cite web|date=2020-02-18|title=St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton to return to St Kilda's leadership group ahead of imminent AFL return|url=https://www.foxsports.com.au/afl/st-kilda-defender-dylan-roberton-to-return-to-st-kildas-leadership-group-ahead-of-imminent-afl-return/news-story/bd2828c1d0cf9685d48dd15fe78b832b|access-date=2021-03-08|website=Fox Sports|language=en}} Roberton played in the Saints' Round 1 clash against North Melbourne, his first AFL-level game since his collapse in 2018. However, Roberton did not play at AFL level again in 2020 following the resumption of the season following the Coronavirus hiatus from April to June.
In early January 2021 defender Roberton announced he was taking a break from his footballing duties to consider his future in football.{{Cite web|title=Dylan Roberton update|url=https://www.saints.com.au/news/848678/dylan-roberton-update|access-date=2021-01-30|website=www.saints.com.au}} Roberton has been attempting to make a full return to football following a collapse as a result of a heart condition in Round 4 2018. Roberton ultimately announced his retirement from the game on 6 March, stating that "I've come to a point where I need to put my family and future first...after lengthy discussions with my family and on the advice of my doctors, I've made the extremely hard decision to hang up the boots."{{Cite web|date=2021-03-05|title=St Kilda's Dylan Roberton retires from AFL as he puts 'family and future first'|url=https://www.abc.net.au/news/2021-03-05/afl-st-kilda-dylan-roberton-announces-retirement/13221126|access-date=2021-03-08|website=www.abc.net.au|language=en-AU}}
Coaching
Roberton was appointed the forwards coach of the {{AFLW|WB}}' AFLW team in October 2021.{{cite web|title=AFLW Bulldogs confirm 2022 coaching panel|url=https://www.westernbulldogs.com.au/news/1023643/aflw-bulldogs-confirm-2022-coaching-panel|work=Western Bulldogs Media|access-date=7 October 2021}}
Personal life
In January 2013, it was revealed that a major reason for Roberton wanting to return to Victoria was to be closer to his and his partner Amy's families. The couple's first son, named Boston, was born in November 2012.{{Cite news|url=http://www.perthnow.com.au:80/sport/afl/family-the-reason-behind-dylan-robertons-exit-from-fremantle/story-e6frg21l-1226557331147|archive-date=22 January 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130122001101/http://www.perthnow.com.au/sport/afl/family-the-reason-behind-dylan-robertons-exit-from-fremantle/story-e6frg21l-1226557331147|title=Family the reason behind Dylan Roberton's exit from Fremantle|first=Braden|last=Quartermaine|work=The Sunday Times|date=20 January 2013|url-status=dead|df=dmy-all}}
Roberton's second son was born in June 2014, and a daughter was born in June 2015.
References
{{Reflist}}
External links
{{Commons category}}
- {{Stkplayer}}
- {{AFL Tables}}
- {{AustralianFootball}}
- {{WAFL FootyFacts}}
{{2009 AFL national draft}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Roberton, Dylan}}
Category:Fremantle Football Club players
Category:East Perth Football Club players
Category:Australian rules footballers from Victoria (state)
Category:Dandenong Stingrays players
Category:St Kilda Football Club players