St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton is ticking off each session of the pre-season like items on a shopping list, putting injury interrupted summers firmly in his past in the process.
The 25-year-old has elevated his endurance to the next level across the first half of the pre-season, culminating in an impressive performance in last Friday’s 3km time-trial.
Roberton, who reached the 100-game barrier in Round 21 last season, admits there is no secret behind his progress this pre-season, with the rebounding defender benefiting from the opportunity to weave one session after another together.
“This has been my first full pre-season so far, so I’ve done everything this summer which has been good,” Roberton told saints.com.au on Monday morning.
“The last couple of years I’ve been in and out [of the main group], stuck out on the back oval [with the rehab group].
“But so far this pre-season I’ve managed to do every main session, which is good to be around the boys and feed off that energy at this time of year because normally it’s just running laps and stuff like that.”
The former Fremantle defender revealed the mark he set in last Friday’s return run was the best he has recorded since his first season in Western Australia, back when he weighed 13 kilograms lighter.
“Since I’ve been at this weight, that’s been the best time I’ve run since I was weighing in at 75 kilos in my first year in the AFL,” Roberton said.
“I’ve been able to get my time done by doing everything with all the boys and trying to run with blokes who are better runners than me so it just pushes me harder.”
While Roberton hasn’t been far off the elite running group this summer, he lauded the work at the top of the endurance pyramid, led by Jarryn Geary, Jack Newnes, Seb Ross and Mav Weller, before praising Daniel McKenzie for his eye-catching summer to date.
“All the usual suspects are running really way; Gears and Newnesy, Sebby and Mav," he said.
“‘D-Mac’ has really jumped up this year too; he’s a good athlete so it’s good to see him taking his endurance to the next level.”
