Sullivan Robey

Robey grew up in South-East Melbourne, playing junior football for the [[Beaconsfield Eagles Football Club]] and the [[Rowville Football Club]],{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-50jxEs1L/|title=Sullivan Robey Draft Night - Rowville Hawks|publisher=[[Rowville Football Club]]|via=[[Instagram]]|date=13 November 2025}} and attending high school at [[Mazenod College, Victoria|Mazenod College]].{{cite web|url=https://www.mazenod.vic.edu.au/news/sullivan-robey-selected-with-pick-9-by-the-essendon-bombers|title=Sullivan Robey selected with Pick 9 by the Essendon Bombers|publisher=[[Mazenod College, Victoria]]|date=19 November 2025}} Robey also played some basketball during his youth, including playing in junior teams with the [[Dandenong Rangers (NBL1 South)|Dandenong Rangers]].{{cite web|url=https://www.playhq.com/public/profile/b662adbc-b8a0-44dc-b355-166eba59fa2f/statistics?tenant=afl|title=Sullivan Robey|publisher=PlayHQ}}

Robey grew up in South-East Melbourne, playing junior football for the [[Beaconsfield Eagles Football Club]] and the [[Rowville Football Club]],{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/DQ-50jxEs1L/|title=Sullivan Robey Draft Night - Rowville Hawks|publisher=[[Rowville Football Club]]|via=[[Instagram]]|date=13 November 2025}} and attending high school at [[Mazenod College, Victoria|Mazenod College]].{{cite web|url=https://www.mazenod.vic.edu.au/news/sullivan-robey-selected-with-pick-9-by-the-essendon-bombers|title=Sullivan Robey selected with Pick 9 by the Essendon Bombers|publisher=[[Mazenod College, Victoria]]|date=19 November 2025}} Robey also played some basketball during his youth, including playing in junior teams with the [[Dandenong Rangers (NBL1 South)|Dandenong Rangers]].{{cite web|url=https://www.playhq.com/public/profile/b662adbc-b8a0-44dc-b355-166eba59fa2f/statistics?tenant=afl|title=Sullivan Robey|publisher=PlayHQ}}

Robey played for the [[Dandenong Stingrays]] in the [{Talent League]] at under 16 level, but failed to make their under 18 squad in what would've been his draft year. With permission from Dandenong, Robey played a pre-season trial game for the [[Eastern Ranges]], as he was geographically zoned to Dandenong but played local footy for Rowville, which was in the Ranges zone. Robey wasn't signed for the start of the season, with the Ranges opting to keep some list spots open for players who impressed at local level during the season. Robey returned to play local footy, where he played in the Rowville seniors team and performed strongly. In June, Robey was added to the Eastern Ranges list, having impressed over the first half of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/11/01/afl-national-draft-2025-sullivan-robey-draft-bolters-rise-to-the-top-10|title=How Robey became the draft 'bolter of the decade'|publisher=[[1116 SEN]]|date=1 November 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/sullivan-robey/|title=Sullivan Robey Draft Profile|publisher=Rookie Me Central}} Robey impressed immediately, catching the attention of AFL recruiters within his first few matches, including a 40 disposal performance against [[Calder Cannons]].{{cite web|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-bolter-backs-it-up-mature-aged-prospect-shines-168124/|title=AFL Draft: Bolter backs it up, mature aged prospect shines|publisher=zerohanger.com.au|date=7 September 2025}} Robey capped off his rapid rise by kicking four goals in the Ranges' Grand Final win over the [[Sandringham Dragons]].{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1424154/potential-draft-guns-xavier-taylor-and-sullivan-robey-fire-eastern-ranges-to-gf-win-over-sandringham-dragons|title=Potential draft guns fire Ranges to GF win over Dragons|publisher=[[AFL Media]]|date=20 September 2025}}

Robey played for the [[Dandenong Stingrays]] in the [[Talent League]] at under 16 level, but failed to make their under 18 squad in what would've been his draft year. With permission from Dandenong, Robey played a pre-season trial game for the [[Eastern Ranges]], as he was geographically zoned to Dandenong but played local footy for Rowville, which was in the Ranges zone. Robey wasn't signed for the start of the season, with the Ranges opting to keep some list spots open for players who impressed at local level during the season. Robey returned to play local footy, where he played in the Rowville seniors team and performed strongly. In June, Robey was added to the Eastern Ranges list, having impressed over the first half of the season.{{cite web|url=https://www.sen.com.au/news/2025/11/01/afl-national-draft-2025-sullivan-robey-draft-bolters-rise-to-the-top-10|title=How Robey became the draft 'bolter of the decade'|publisher=[[1116 SEN]]|date=1 November 2025}}{{cite web|url=https://central.rookieme.com/afl/player/sullivan-robey/|title=Sullivan Robey Draft Profile|publisher=Rookie Me Central}} Robey impressed immediately, catching the attention of AFL recruiters within his first few matches, including a 40 disposal performance against [[Calder Cannons]].{{cite web|url=https://www.zerohanger.com/afl-draft-bolter-backs-it-up-mature-aged-prospect-shines-168124/|title=AFL Draft: Bolter backs it up, mature aged prospect shines|publisher=zerohanger.com.au|date=7 September 2025}} Robey capped off his rapid rise by kicking four goals in the Ranges' Grand Final win over the [[Sandringham Dragons]].{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1424154/potential-draft-guns-xavier-taylor-and-sullivan-robey-fire-eastern-ranges-to-gf-win-over-sandringham-dragons|title=Potential draft guns fire Ranges to GF win over Dragons|publisher=[[AFL Media]]|date=20 September 2025}}

By the end of the season, Robey was widely-touted as a potential top 10 draft pick, and was given a late invitation to the [[AFL Draft Combine]] following widespread interest from AFL clubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1416119/inside-trading-hawks-hand-to-land-zach-bombers-meet-afl-on-bidding-changes-swans-nga-warning|title=New deal for Treloar, more change for Dees, draft bolter earns Combine invite|publisher=[[AFL Media]]|date=15 September 2025}} Robey was described by Eastern Ranges coach, Lauren Morecroft, as the "draft bolter of the decade". Robey was forced to skip some of the testing at the combine due to a fractured collarbone that he had played through at the end of the season, but participated in running tests.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/46493202/afl-draft-combine-2025-sam-grlj-willem-duursma-gold-coast-suns-dyson-sharp|title=AFL Draft Combine 2025: The biggest takeaways from the weekend|publisher=[[ESPN Australia]]|date=6 October 2025}}

By the end of the season, Robey was widely-touted as a potential top 10 draft pick, and was given a late invitation to the [[AFL Draft Combine]] following widespread interest from AFL clubs.{{cite web|url=https://www.afl.com.au/news/1416119/inside-trading-hawks-hand-to-land-zach-bombers-meet-afl-on-bidding-changes-swans-nga-warning|title=New deal for Treloar, more change for Dees, draft bolter earns Combine invite|publisher=[[AFL Media]]|date=15 September 2025}} Robey was described by Eastern Ranges coach, Lauren Morecroft, as the "draft bolter of the decade". Robey was forced to skip some of the testing at the combine due to a fractured collarbone that he had played through at the end of the season, but participated in running tests.{{cite web|url=https://www.espn.com.au/afl/story/_/id/46493202/afl-draft-combine-2025-sam-grlj-willem-duursma-gold-coast-suns-dyson-sharp|title=AFL Draft Combine 2025: The biggest takeaways from the weekend|publisher=[[ESPN Australia]]|date=6 October 2025}}