If Dylan Roberton isn’t leading the Trevor Barker Award after four rounds, he’d have to be near the pointy end and it’s the inclusion of Nathan Brown and Jake Carlisle that the versatile defender credits for his fast start to 2017.
The 25-year-old collected a career-high 32 disposals – all but three hit the target – against Collingwood at Etihad Stadium on Easter Sunday, along with 12 marks, six inside 50s and 595 metres of gained territory.
“I think everyone has (benefited) – we have all benefited (from the arrival of Brown and Carlisle),” Roberton told saints.com.au after St Kilda’s 14-point win on Sunday night.
“They’re the anchors so we know they are going to get their job done and they we just work around them and support where we can.”
Monday Wash-Up: Round 4 v Collingwood
Along with Roberton, former Collingwood premiership backman Nathan Brown has been a shining light in defence across the first month of 2017.
Brown, 28, has played key roles on West Coast’s Josh Kennedy and Brisbane’s Josh Schache in recent weeks, and held Darcy Moore goalless on Sunday.
“He said he looked at the fixture as soon as he got traded and he was glad it was pretty early (in the season),” Roberton said.
“We just wanted him to shutout his bloke which he did. He did it last week and he did it the week before. The last three weeks he’s been really strong along with Jake.”
Roberton lauded the performance by young midfielder Seb Ross after the recently appointed leader got the job done on Collingwood star Adam Treloar.
“Sebby has played a real honest role this year, even last year when he went to [Patrick] Dangerfield and he went to [Sam] Mitchell (in Round 2) and this week he went to [Adam] Treloar.
“I think Treloar still might have got the ball as he always will be he was kicking across his body, getting tackled and put on the ground and Seb was getting involved when we had the ball.”
