Brisbane Lions draftee Deven Robertson eyes Luke Hodge’s number
He felt “embarrassed” as he sat through the opening night of the AFL draft, but new Lion Deven Robertson had plenty of people reaching out. And now he might take on a famous number.
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New Brisbane Lions’ hard nut Deven Robertson looks set to be handed Luke Hodge’s No.2 playing guernsey next week.
The Lions traditionally allow their top draft pick to have first choice of the vacant playing numbers after landing at the club.
And Robertson, who was considered one of the toughest and most prolific midfielders in the draft pool, has expressed an interest in taking on Hodge’s No.2 Lions’ jumper.
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Hodge called the Larke Medallist last night after the Lions’ pounced on Robertson with the first pick of the second round (No.22) after making a trade with Port Adelaide.
One of the most respected players of the modern era, Hodge wished Robertson well and is preparing to work with the gun Western Australian as part of the Lions’ coaching staff for 2020.
Hodge made the call to retire this year, pulling the curtain on his champion 346-game career including four premierships at Hawthorn.
Robertson was widely tipped to be taken in the first round but watched on as all the clubs overlooked him, including Fremantle, on the opening night of the draft.
But Brisbane have long admired his ballwinning and courage in the contest and gave up a future second-round pick as part of the Port Adelaide to jump ahead in the queue.
Robertson already counted Lachie Neale among his favourite players and will work the star onballer to refine his craft over summer.
Brisbane is expected to strongly challenge for a top-four spot next year after surging up the ladder under Chris Fagan this year.
NEW LION: ‘I WAS EMBARRASSED’
Robertson hasn’t crafted an elite under-age reputation by running away from the action, so he wasn’t about to start now.
Robertson was the only player invited to Wednesday night’s first round to not get picked.
As his contemporaries took their turns on stage in the limelight, the West Australian midfielder sat “embarrassed”.
For a teenager who won the Larke Medal, broke the disposals record in the under 18 championships, captained WA to the title and was widely considered a first-round prospect, it was two hours of torture.
Sat beside him, his mum had a glass of champagne at the ready, but it was in danger of getting warm.
In the aftermath, Robertson contemplated chucking it in; flying home to Perth and escaping the nightmare.
“We did have the option to head home and watch it with the family, but I didn’t want to run away from what had happened,” Robertson said.
“I wanted to go home a drafted man.”
He will now do that after the Brisbane Lions put Robertson out of his misery with the first pick of Thursday night’s second round – No.22.
The Lions had earlier engineered a trade with Port Adelaide to make it happen.
Robertson will make the biggest move in football with something of an axe to grind.
“Obviously being overlooked by so many clubs I do feel like I have an opportunity to maybe prove them wrong a little bit,” he said.
“But I definitely don’t hold any grudges against those clubs. I know it’s a business and if they had players rated higher than me then that’s what it is.
“I’m definitely not angry … but I do feel like I’ve got a bit of a point to prove, absolutely.”
Sleep didn’t come easy on Wednesday night, but the nephew of former West Coast star Darren Glass found comfort in the plethora of supportive text messages.
“I had lots of people over the last 24 hours reach out to me and tell me that numbers don’t matter,” he said.
“Nat Fyfe was probably the biggest name. He sent me quite a lengthy text and said it was just a little bump in the road and that the really good players in the AFL would breeze straight over it.
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“There’s been some terrific examples over the last couple of years. James Worpel a couple of years ago went pick 45 and he just won a Hawthorn best and fairest so I’m not worried at all.
“I’m on top of the world now. I can’t wipe the smile off my face and I couldn’t be happier to get to Brisbane.”
The 184cm 81kg ball-winner is due to start full contact training with the Lions in December after undergoing surgery on a dislocated shoulder.
For a kid proud of his vinyl record collection, the draft finally sung his tune.
Now the hard work really begins.
Originally published as Brisbane Lions draftee Deven Robertson eyes Luke Hodge’s number
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