FAMILY FIRST: Former Docker Dylan Roberton with the reasons he left Fremantle to return to Victoria - his Girlfriend Amy and their 11-week old baby boy Boston. Picture: Paul Loughnan Source: PerthNow
MEET baby Boston - the reason Dylan Roberton walked out on Fremantle at the end of last season to return home to Melbourne.
Roberton, who played 37 games for the Dockers in three seasons, decided he and partner Amy Capp needed to return to Melbourne to be near the support of family after she fell pregnant last year.
Fremantle could not get a deal done for Roberton during the October trade period, with the 21-year-old becoming a father in early November, at a time he did not have a club or know if he had a future in the AFL.
He continued to train by himself in the hope of a lifeline and St Kilda became his dream suitor in late November when it signed him as a delisted free agent.
The Saints' Seaford training base is just minutes from Frankston, where he and his childhood sweetheart grew up and have now returned.
"I didn't know what was going to happen, so I was a bit worried there for a little bit, but obviously it all turned out pretty good in the end," Roberton said.
"I tried to steer clear of thinking about (whether my career could have been over). I just kept training and kept talking to my manager and he sort of said that we should be able to get something done."
Roberton said he was coping well with fatherhood and predicted it would help his football.
"I've matured a lot over the past couple of months," he said. "I'm not just supporting myself now. I'm supporting a family, so I'll try to play as good as I can for as long as I can and stay at the club.
"Amy does a lot of the work, and being so close to the club makes it a lot easier as well.
"It feels like home and being back home with family to help out makes it easier than obviously if we were still back in Perth."
Respected WA football figure Tony Micale was instrumental in getting Roberton to St Kilda after he coached him at East Perth, before moving to the Saints as a development coach.
"I think this has turned out favourable for everyone," Micale said.
"It's a fantastic story.
"He's got back home. He's going to play his role very importantly as a father and he's got the opportunity to pursue his lifelong love of playing football."
Micale said Roberton's ability to remain focused on his training, despite the uncertainty regarding his future, had laid the foundation for a successful season.
"Considering what he was going through in his personal life, he turned up in good condition," he said.
"For a young kid of 21, there must have been a lot going on in his mind. It sends a real good message regarding his character.
"I think he'll play a real part in the direction we're going in as a football club.
"He can play a variety of roles. He reads the play extremely well as a defender and he sort of gives you that run and penetration."
Roberton, who will play under his third senior coach in four seasons this year, was grateful to the Dockers for their understanding of his reasons for wanting to go home.
"I think my first year was probably my best year and then I sort of dropped off a bit," he said. "But it was a good experience and I learnt a lot."
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