Saint collapse still puzzles
ST KILDA defender Dylan Roberton is hopeful of missing just a week as medical experts continue searching for the cause of his on-field collapse against Geelong on Sunday.
Roberton was released from Geelong’s Epworth Hospital last night after 24 hours of observation and tests.
“This week I’m ruled out just as a precaution. I’ll do all the testing and then hopefully I’ll be back on the track next week,” Roberton said. “It was a bit of a scare, probably more so for family and friends. I was fine straight away.”
He said he did not recall a lot about the incident.
“I just remember watching the ball go up and getting dizzy but that’s about it,” he said.
Saints doctors still believe, but are not certain, an irregular heart beat may have been to blame for the 26-yearold’s second-quarter collapse, which came as he was slowly jogging alone 30m off the ball.
Roberton reported “dizziness and a blackout” after the incident but was able to walk from the field and was alert and eating on Sunday night as he was visited in hospital by coach Alan Richardson and wife Amy among others.
St Kilda football manager Simon Lethlean said Roberton would rest for at least the next week, with tests to determine his immediate football future.
However, the Saints hope the incident will prove to be a one-off, with no history of heart problems and Roberton reporting no other health issues in recent twice-weekly player wellbeing surveys.
“There’s a number of tests to take as standard procedure for any heart-related issues that will take 1-2 weeks. We’ll monitor those results closely,” Lethlean said yesterday.
“Those results will dictate where he goes thereafter. There will be no exercise in the meantime.
“He’s played every game so far this year and he’s been playing well, fit and healthy. So there’s been no signs that this was coming.”
Roberton, who finished second behind Seb Ross in the Saints’ best-and-fairest last year, has a four-year contract with the club ending in 2021.
The 194cm defender had averaged 20 disposals and seven marks across the opening three rounds.
The Saints meet Greater Western Sydney at Etihad Stadium on Saturday where they will be looking to snap a three-game losing streak.