Sullivan Robey: Height, Age, School, Draft, and SuperCoach

Few stories in the 2025 AFL draft cycle were as unexpected as Sullivan Robey’s rise. A teenager who was cut from a junior program not long ago, he suddenly found himself in the top 10 after a late growth spurt and a string of dominant midfield performances, and this article tracks how Robey went from local football to the Essendon Bombers and what his 192 cm frame means for his AFL future and SuperCoach prospects.

Height: 192 cm ·
Date of birth: 4 October 2007 ·
Draft pick: Pick 9 (2025 AFL Draft) ·
Debut: 2026 AFL season ·
School: Mazenod College ·
Club: Essendon Bombers

Six key facts, one pattern: Robey’s story is built on rapid physical change and a late career pivot.

Who is Sullivan Robey?

Early life and education

• Born 4 October 2007 in Melbourne (Rookie Me Central)
• Attended Mazenod College in Victoria’s outer east (Sport Nation)
• Described as a lifelong Essendon supporter by the club (Essendon FC)

Robey’s football journey initially followed a common path: Coates Talent League with the Eastern Ranges. But it was his late-teen growth spurt that rewrote the script. Eastern Ranges coach Lauren Morecroft told Sport Nation that Robey had grown 10–12 cm since he was 16, and she believed he could reach 195 cm (Sport Nation). That physical transformation turned a forward into a midfielder.

AFL draft journey

• ESPN ranked Robey at No. 8 in its September 2025 AFL Draft Power Rankings (ESPN Australia)
• Rookie Me Central listed his draft range as 5–10 (Rookie Me Central)
• Essendon selected him with pick 9 in the 2025 AFL National Draft (Wikipedia)

ESPN called him the “biggest draft bolter in a decade” (ESPN Australia). His rise accelerated after a late growth spurt and midfield minutes over six weeks. Robey himself said the shift from forward to inside midfielder unlocked his game.

The implication: Robey’s draft story is less about natural pedigree and more about a right-place-right-time physical change that turned a fringe prospect into a first-round pick.

How tall is Sullivan Robey?

Height and weight measurements

• Listed at 192 cm across multiple draft-profile sources (Rookie Me Central)
• No official weight published yet by Essendon or draft combine

At 192 cm, Robey is tall for an inside midfielder – taller than the average AFL inside mid (~185 cm). His frame still has room to fill out as he matures physically.

The pattern: Robey’s height is a key asset but weight remains unconfirmed.

Comparisons to other players

• Rookie Me Central describes him as a powerful, physically imposing midfielder-forward with aerial presence (Rookie Me Central)
• ESPN noted his Coates Talent League line: 8 games, 20.5 disposals and 1.8 goals per game (ESPN Australia)

His size and dual-position profile invite comparisons to players like Patrick Cripps (early career build) – but Robey is younger and still developing. The pattern: he projects as a player who wins his own ball and can go forward and mark it.

How much did Sullivan Robey grow?

Late growth spurt timeline

• Robey was cut from the Dandenong Stingrays before trialling with the Eastern Ranges (Sport Nation)
• He returned to local football for a period before earning a call-up
• Coach Morecroft confirmed he grew 10–12 cm since age 16 (Sport Nation)

The growth spurt occurred in his late teens, a period when many athletes plateau. Most of the increase came in height, not bulk – his weight remains unpublished.

Impact on his playing style

• Shift from forward to inside midfielder after growth spurt
• Able to win contested ball and push forward with aerial threat
• Four-goal Grand Final performance showcased his new capabilities (Sport Nation)

Robey’s transformation is not just statistical – it changed how scouts valued him. Before the growth, he was a small forward without clear AFL traits. After, he became a size mismatch for opposition midfielders.

The trade-off: teams drafting him are betting that his late physical development continues and that his skills catch up to his new body.

Which school did Sullivan Robey attend?

Secondary education at Mazenod College

• Attended Mazenod College in Mulgrave, Victoria (Sport Nation)
• The school publicly congratulated Robey on his draft selection (Mazenod College)

Mazenod College has a growing reputation in AFL pathways, with past students including several VFL/AFL-listed players. Robey played school football under the school’s high-performance program.

Role of school in AFL pathway

• School football provided a platform before Coates Talent League recruitment
• Robey’s academic story remains light – no public ATAR or subject focus

The school’s role was foundational but not the primary driver. Robey’s path into the AFL system came through the Eastern Ranges, though Mazenod provided early development.

The pattern: For Victorian draft prospects, school football often serves as a feeder to representative programs, and Robey’s case is no exception.

What is Sullivan Robey’s SuperCoach value?

SuperCoach pricing and availability

• SuperCoach price for 2026 not yet confirmed by official channels
• Expectation: he will be a low-cost rookie option (likely $117,300–$140,000)

As a first-year player taken with pick 9, Robey’s starting SuperCoach price will reflect his draft position – typically $150,000–$180,000 for top-10 picks. But if he debuts late or is held back, his price could drop.

Scoring potential in 2026

• Inside midfield role tends to produce 60–85 SC points per game if he gets regular minutes
• Aerial ability adds marking points, boosting ceiling

History suggests midfield rookies drafted in the top 10 usually see game time in their first season. Robey could be a viable cash‑cow for SuperCoach coaches looking for value on the field.

The catch: Without an official injury history or combine results, his durability is an unknown – a risk factor for any fantasy investment.

Timeline

• 4 October 2007 – Born in Melbourne, Australia
• 2025 (pre-draft) – Rapid growth spurt pushes his height to 192 cm; becomes a draft bolter
• 19 November 2025 – Drafted by Essendon with pick 9 in the 2025 AFL National Draft
• 2026 – Makes AFL debut; plays 8 games in his first season (Wikipedia)

The timeline underscores the compressed nature of Robey’s rise – less than 12 months from unknown to first-round pick.

Quotes

“The lifelong Bombers fan was elated to hear his name called.”

Essendon FC draft announcement (Essendon FC)

“Sullivan Robey is the biggest draft bolter in a decade.”

ESPN Australia (ESPN Australia)

“He’s grown 10–12cm since he was 16. He’s 192cm at the moment, and I can see him getting to 195cm.”

Eastern Ranges coach Lauren Morecroft (Sport Nation)

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Frequently asked questions

For Essendon supporters and SuperCoach coaches alike, the decision is clear: bank on the body that grew faster than the draft boards could re-rank, and trust that the skills will follow. For Robey, the next 12 months will determine whether his late growth spurt becomes the foundation of a long AFL career or a footnote to a flash-in-the-pan draft story.