If this kid is a so called draft bolter and based on people views he plays like Cripps or Oliver then the club should go after him. (sell the farm) The 64 dollar question is to find out why do "draft kids" become draft Bolters? Someone would get a Phd out of this.

After watching the Robey highlights I want to know who No. 26 is for the Eastern Ranges?

1 minute ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

After watching the Robey highlights I want to know who No. 26 is for the Eastern Ranges?

I think it might be Oliver Greeves?

1 hour ago, Harvey Wallbanger said:

I think it might be Oliver Greeves?

yep ollie greeves, big midfielder

I've been trawling through draft boards - rookie me central, bigfooty, podcasts for info.

If we focus on the negatives then this draft period is going to be pretty disappointing to discuss. This isnt the draft for perfection. All players taken outside of Durrsma and some of the academy picks have flaws in their games that you can point to. Similar to last year where we questioned if Langford was too slow.

Roobey - works hard to attack. Maybe not to defend. Kicking isnt elite and isnt the quickest but isnt slow.

What he does well is great. Tall midfielder who is a genuine tall threat in attack. Disposal is fine for his position. Pace and tank are fine.

There are a few draft watches who arent elevating him above others. If he isnt available at our pick there will be others who they think are just as good or better, but they all seem to have question marks on them in certain aspects.

Personally i like the look of him a lot and would be happy if we traded up.

On 21/10/2025 at 17:52, The Jackson FIX said:

Moves more like Cripps to me.

But can he throw and get away with it ??

39 minutes ago, monoccular said:

But can he throw and get away with it ??

Or run 40 metres without bouncing?

I have just finished reading a lengthy article from today’s HUN. Mr. Robey does not get a mention at all. To be fair it is about who goes no.1 but a lot of players outside of the no. 1 are mention. So I am now more confused than before I read the story.

Clarry himself was a bolter.

2 minutes ago, layzie said:

Clarry himself was a bolter.

Oliver looked much much better than Robey does in his draft year.

On 23/10/2025 at 09:31, Coolx2 said:

If this kid is a so called draft bolter and based on people views he plays like Cripps or Oliver then the club should go after him. (sell the farm) The 64 dollar question is to find out why do "draft kids" become draft Bolters? Someone would get a Phd out of this.

Most of the top picks have played at Under 16 nationals, played Coates league (or equivalent) in their bottom age under 18 year, possibly even played under 18’s nationals a year early and then frank that form early in the Coates league season to get Twomey and others attention.

Clarry didn’t get much of a look in for Bendigo as a 17 year old, got OP over summer so started his 18 year slow and missed out on the national champs, then produced dominant TAC cup form and good VFL performances to be a top 5 pick.

Robey got cut from Dandenong at 16, couldn’t even get included in the initial Eastern squad this year, plays local footy (including seniors) then dominates Coates league from mid year.

What changed that had these guys missing squads to dominating? That’s the million dollar question. I think it’s fair to assume there was some maturity and commitment with Clarry. If I had to guess with Robey I’d say it’s a kid who’s grown a lot in a short period of time and just suddenly come in to his body.

Neither of them were at APS private schools getting the best coaching and being alongside a lot of other draftable kids through the journey either.

If we cannot get Robey perhaps we can get Greeves.

3 hours ago, DeeSpencer said:

Most of the top picks have played at Under 16 nationals, played Coates league (or equivalent) in their bottom age under 18 year, possibly even played under 18’s nationals a year early and then frank that form early in the Coates league season to get Twomey and others attention.

Clarry didn’t get much of a look in for Bendigo as a 17 year old, got OP over summer so started his 18 year slow and missed out on the national champs, then produced dominant TAC cup form and good VFL performances to be a top 5 pick.

Robey got cut from Dandenong at 16, couldn’t even get included in the initial Eastern squad this year, plays local footy (including seniors) then dominates Coates league from mid year.

What changed that had these guys missing squads to dominating? That’s the million dollar question. I think it’s fair to assume there was some maturity and commitment with Clarry. If I had to guess with Robey I’d say it’s a kid who’s grown a lot in a short period of time and just suddenly come in to his body.

Neither of them were at APS private schools getting the best coaching and being alongside a lot of other draftable kids through the journey either.

I think I read that Robey grew 20cm in a very short time, that helps

1 hour ago, Coolx2 said:

If we cannot get Robey perhaps we can get Greeves.

Really like this idea.

On 23/10/2025 at 12:02, harveylangfordisthegoat said:

yep ollie greeves, big midfielder

Forget Robey and get Greeves in, at least we will have a chance with him.

Robey presented well on Gettable, very confident but not arrogant. I like his Eastern jumper number too. Hopefully if we get him he retains it.

I hope the club selects 2x players with our top 2 picks instead of trading up.

Hopefully JT has some tricks up his sleeve.

Mids will be the order of the day one would think.

Find the AFL and people on Gettable a laugh, they all said it’s a compromised draft and essentially wrote them all off.

Now everything you see is how good Robey and Dovaston etc are.

Anything for clicks.

If he’s available at our pick, the other teams haven’t done their homework

On 24/10/2025 at 14:43, layzie said:

Clarry himself was a bolter.

…. a bolter who has bolted 🙄

On 24/10/2025 at 17:46, GawnOfTheDead said:

Find the AFL and people on Gettable a laugh, they all said it’s a compromised draft and essentially wrote them all off.

Now everything you see is how good Robey and Dovaston etc are.

Anything for clicks.

To be fair, the championships were pretty ordinary. The top groups has grown (a little) because the eastern boys went on a tear (Taylor x 2, Robey, Greeves, Dova) and they have all moved into first round contention and Grjs played well in the seniors. I don’t think we’ve had anyone else rise up to extend that top group. It’s still not great 😂

After watching a heap of footage of the players expected to be in our 7-8 range, it’s clear none have the upside of Robey

We all know that JT loves to target particular players, even if it means paying overs to move up, and we already know that we were the first club to speak to him

So with that in mind, do we have any realistic pathways to trade up to get him? We would need to trade for pick 2 or 3 at the latest to guarantee we could take him

Scouting Notes 30/10/2025

"The true bolter of this year's class, this powerfully-built utility looks ready to light up the AFL.

Club Eastern Ranges / Rowville

State VIC

Height 192cm

DOB 4/10/07

Clean Hands / Kicking / Overhead Marking / Versatility

One of the biggest draft bolters in years, Robey surged from relative obscurity after his performances for the Eastern Ranges in the second half of the Coates Talent League season. Cut by the Dandenong Stingrays as an under-16 player, he had a sizeable growth spurt over the past two years - adding 17cm - and returned to the pathway programs to play a trial match for the Ranges in pre-season. Robey was told to go back to local club Rowville where he played under-19s, before being called back by the Ranges in the middle of the year. After impressing on the training track, he earned a round 12 debut and kicked two goals from 13 disposals as a forward. Robey kicked six goals across his first three games before being thrust into the midfield in a wildcard round game against the Western Jets, where Robey racked up 40 disposals, five clearances, 11 score involvements and kicked three goals. He also starred in the Grand Final in September, kicking four goals from 13 disposals and five marks playing mostly in attack - with a crack in his collarbone which he carried through the finals series. Robey is clean with ball in hand – including at ground level – can take a strong mark in the air, leads well, is a lovely kick, has power in his game and covers the ground well. While he is a handy forward, he is seen as a player who could develop into a modern-day big-bodied AFL midfielder when he gets into a full-time football environment.

2025 Coates League 108 ranking points, 19.7 disposals, 6.2 marks, 0.7 contested marks, 2 clearances, 4.7 inside 50s, 7 score involvements, 2 goals, 0.8 score assists, 2.7 tackles (9 games)"

It's not outside the question that the Eagles take him at pick 2 behind Duursma. I think my concern is we'd probably have to give up 3 first rounders to even get into the conversation and then it's a lot of pressure on him to deliver.

On 24/10/2025 at 14:46, KozzyCan said:

Oliver looked much much better than Robey does in his draft year.

Probably.

Still a very good body of work in 9 games though.