AFL Draft bolter Sullivan Robey was starstruck when he stood beside top prospect Willem Duursma in his Coates Talent League debut this year, with the Eastern Ranges livewire going from an outside chance to being in the mix to join Duursma as a top five pick in this year's count.
Following an unsuccessful pre-season training stint with the Ranges that preceded a spell of senior football with local club Rowville in the first half of this year, Robey secured a second chance with the CTL side in June.
Robey kicked eight goals in five games with the Eastern Football League outfit to put himself back on the map, with an opportunity finally arising with the Ranges after years of rejection.
The 192cm forward took his chance, booting two goals in his maiden showing for Eastern to show his value at the level.
That outing would be the first of nine games for the Ranges, with Robey going on to help the club secure the 2025 premiership, kicking 17 goals in half a season, including a season-best four majors in Eastern's grand final win over Sandringham.
A dominant showing in the first week of finals saw Robey record 40 disposals and three goals to cement his place as a first-round prospect, with his finish to the season now having him in consideration for one of West Coast's first two picks.
Duursma looks a strong chance to go Pick 1 and land at the Eagles, with Robey - who was in awe of the Gippsland star in his first CTL game - a chance to follow him west with West Coast's subsequent selection at second overall.
Speaking to Zero Hanger's Craft of the Draft, Robey reflected on his debut performance, which came off the back of a road of adversity.
"It was just to go out there and play the footy that I had worked on over the past couple of years," Robey said of his maiden showing for the Ranges.
"Not being able to display that at such a level has been pretty tough, so I was just letting it all out in that moment and knowing I had nothing to lose.
"Coming on mid-year with no real expectations, I just wanted to play a couple of games for the season. It was very comforting knowing there were no expectations, and I could play the foot that I wanted to.
"I had a decent game, and it gave me the confidence that I could match it with those boys.
"Even just going up against Duursma in that game was pretty idolising and to know I could play at that standard, it gave me a lot of confidence in the next couple of weeks."
Robey, joined by fellow top 20 prospects Xavier Taylor, Lachy Dovaston, Ollie Greeves and Oskar Taylor, was integral in Eastern's run to the premiership.
But a collarbone injury almost meant he missed the cessation of his breakout season, which had already been limited by his placement on the outer of the Ranges program and a shoulder setback earlier in the year.
A decision to play through the pain and 'bite down on the mouthguard' paid dividends, with Robey putting forward his best form of the year while carrying an ailment through September.
"I knew I had missed too many games already," he said. "For my own sake, I wanted to play through it, but also for the team's sake.
| 4 RANK |  | Sullivan Robey Eastern Ranges Forward/Midfielder HEIGHT: 192cm | ▶+ |
"We were nearing the end of finals and I had to push through for the team. There was a bit of biting down on the mouthguard and pushing through to do what had to be done for the team.
"I wasn't worried too much about where I was sitting, I just knew I still had nothing to lose and that I was playing the best footy I could."
Robey's Eastern Ranges rejection early this year wasn't the first setback in his bid to be drafted, with the former Beaconsfield junior also denied an opportunity with the Dandenong Stingrays.
As a 16-year-old, Robey was cut from the Stingrays program given questions over his lack of size, speed and work rate.
At that point in his career, Robey stood at 175cm, and has since grown 16cm to be a bigger force in the front half.
But it wasn't just a growth spurt that has since placed Robey on the radar of all 18 clubs, with a response to his feedback from Dandenong helping blaze his trail.
"A bit of (the feedback) was on my speed, which, I can probably understand," he said. "Back then, I was pretty upset by it. But looking back now, I was pretty slow. And in all areas, I was a little underdone.
"Another was that if I gave off a handball or a kick, I'd just sit back a little and watch it all unfold, rather than chasing that next disposal in my game.
"So there were a few areas in my game at that stage that I had to improve on.
"I've worked on my speed and explosiveness out of stoppage since. So I've been building that up and becoming a better stoppage player, as well as keep following the ball. That's a big part of my game now."
Before his rise to draft fame, Robey always had the AFL in mind; he just assumed it wouldn't come so quickly.
While now a likely selection toward the top of the draft board, the explosive teenager believes he still has plenty of room to grow given his lack of access to an elite performance program.
"I always thought it'd be a couple of years after my draft year this year or maybe mid-season," he said of being recruited to the AFL. "I always had the belief, it was just when to be honest.
"I feel pretty raw right now. I haven't even done a pre-season with a Coates team.
"Knowing that with a proper facility and training regimen, I know I've still got areas to fill in.
"Whatever these couple of months hold, it'll be impressive to see how they unfold."
