Barunga Bullet's a TigerGrey Morris
December 16th, 2009
RELTON Roberts' life changed yesterday morning when he officially became an AFL Tiger.
The "Barunga Bullet" was told by Richmond earlier this week it would pick him up in the rookie draft.
And the Tigers kept their word, drafting the 23-year-old as their third pick at No. 38.
A former Thunder player at under-18 and senior level (three games), Roberts became a cult figure at Katherine club Arnhem Crows.
He starred in Victoria's strong Goulburn Valley league in 2008 and won Wanderers' best and fairest award in the NTFL season when the Eagles went all the way to the grand final.
The kid from Barunga will train with Richmond as a listed rookie player at Monash University in Melbourne this morning.
"I'm rapt, it's changed my life to be able to train and play at an AFL club," Roberts told the Northern Territory News last night.
"They told me they would pick me up as a rookie and they followed it up, I feel pretty good right now."
Roberts wants to organise a place to stay and get used to life in Melbourne before bringing his family down from Barunga.
"It's a big step and I want to do it right.
"My other aim is to play alongside Richard Tambling and Troy Taylor in a league match and make it three Territorians in a Richmond jumper."
Essentially a running half-forward, Roberts can play as a lead-up forward or through the midfield where his pace and evasive skills are big assets.
His coach at Wanderers, Paul Motlop, has described him as one of the best players he has seen at NTFL level.
"Relton can play in the AFL next season, he has got skills on both sides of his body," Motlop said.
"It's up to the clubs he plays against to decide what side he is better at."
http://www.ntnews.com.au/article/2009/12/16/109621_ntsport.html
