Sullivan Robey: Draft Pick, Height, Age & School

When a schoolboy becomes his club’s first pick in the national draft, it’s the kind of story footy fans love to follow. Sullivan Robey was that kid in 2025 — a lifelong Essendon supporter who suddenly went from Year 12 classes at Mazenod College to being selected with pick No. 9 by the Bombers.

Draft Pick: 9th overall, 2025 AFL Draft ·
Height: 192 cm ·
Age (as of 2025): 18 ·
Club: Essendon Bombers ·
School: Mazenod College

Seven key facts about Sullivan Robey, one pattern: every confirmed data point builds the picture of a local draft bolter who was identified early and grabbed with the club’s top selection.

What this means: Robey enters Essendon with a clear path — the club invested its first pick in a forward/midfielder who already bleeds red and black, but the jump from school to senior footy is steep.

Who is Sullivan Robey?

Sullivan Robey is a 192‑cm forward/midfielder who was drafted by the Essendon Bombers with the 9th overall pick in the 2025 AFL National Draft (AFL.com.au – 2025 Draft Tracker). Born on 4 October 2007 (Wikipedia – Sullivan Robey), he grew up as a lifelong Bombers supporter and attended Mazenod College in Mulgrave, Victoria.

Early life and background

Robey played his junior football with Rowville in the Eastern Football Netball League (Eastern FNL Facebook). He was a Year 12 student at Mazenod College, a Catholic independent school for boys, when his draft dream came true. The school publicly congratulated him, calling the selection “a tremendous achievement” (Mazenod College announcement).

Draft day surprise

Essendon held pick No. 9 and used it to call Robey’s name. The club’s official profile describes him as a “draft bolter” and notes he was “elated to hear the Club call upon him with their first pick at the 2025 National Draft” (Essendon official profile). Some draft watchers viewed the selection as a minor surprise given he wasn’t widely projected inside the top ten (YouTube – draft recap).

Playing style

• Rookie Me Central describes him as a “physical, powerful high‑impact midfielder/forward” (Rookie Me Central – player profile).
• Essendon’s profile highlights his ability to win contested ball and push forward as a scoring threat.
• No official position label has been published, but his height and skill set suggest a hybrid role through the midfield and half‑forward.

How tall is Sullivan Robey?

Robey is listed at 192 cm (6 ft 3½ in) on Essendon’s official website (Essendon Football Club – player profile). That places him in the taller bracket for a modern midfielder/forward. For context, the average AFL midfielder is around 185–188 cm.

Three physical comparisons, one pattern: Robey is built on the same frame as other tall inside‑mid prospects who transitioned to AFL half‑forward roles.

The pattern: Robey’s height gives him a contested‑mark advantage at stoppages while still offering the agility to play forward. His weight is not yet publicly confirmed, and a tier‑3 social source (Eastern FNL) listed 202 cm and 87 kg — likely an error (Eastern FNL Facebook). The official 192‑cm figure is the reliable baseline.

What school did Sullivan Robey attend?

Robey attended Mazenod College, a Catholic independent school for boys in Mulgrave, Victoria (Mazenod College announcement). He was a Year 12 student at the time of the draft, making his selection even more remarkable — a schoolboy leaping into the AFL system while most peers were sitting exams.

Mazenod College

Mazenod College has produced a handful of AFL‑listed players, including Michael Hibberd and Sam Weideman in previous eras. Robey’s draft achievement is among the highest‑profile selections from the school in recent years. The college’s official news item emphasises his “dedication and hard work” and says the entire community is proud.

Path to AFL draft

• Played for Rowville in the Eastern Football Netball League (Eastern FNL Facebook).
• Represented the Oakleigh Chargers in the NAB League — a standard pathway for top Victorian prospects.
• Essendon’s recruiting team tracked him through the season. The club knocked back three offers from Adelaide for pick 13, suggesting they wanted to keep their draft capital to secure multiple targets (YouTube – draft recap).

Timeline: Sullivan Robey’s career so far

• 4 October 2007 – Sullivan Robey is born.
• November 2025 – Drafted by Essendon with pick 9 in the AFL National Draft (Essendon Football Club, AFL Draft Tracker).
• 26 November 2025 – AFL.com.au reports Robey is laid low by a back concern (AFL.com.au).
• 2026 – Expected AFL debut with Essendon.

The catch: The back issue introduces uncertainty into an otherwise clean trajectory. If managed well, Robey could debut early in 2026; if it lingers, the club may opt for a patient approach.

Confirmed facts and what remains unclear

“We are delighted to welcome Sullivan to the Bombers. He is a lifelong Essendon fan and was elated to hear the Club call upon him with their first pick at the 2025 National Draft. Sullivan is a powerful, athletic prospect who we believe has a bright future in the red and black.”

— Essendon Football Club official profile (Source)

“Mazenod College congratulates Year 12 student Sullivan Robey on being selected with Pick 9 by the Essendon Bombers in the 2025 AFL Draft. This is a tremendous achievement and a testament to his dedication and hard work.”

— Mazenod College announcement (Source)

For Essendon supporters watching the 2026 season, the stakes are straightforward: a schoolboy turned first‑round draftee either overcomes a minor back setback and establishes himself as a regular, or the club invests patience while he develops physically. The talent is there — the body just has to keep up. For Melbourne footy fans, the name Sullivan Robey is one to watch in the next pre‑season scratch matches.

Related reading: Callan Ward retires: AFL career, wife, kids, new GWS role · Cooper Johns: Why He Quit NRL and Radio – Career Changes Explained

His unexpected journey from junior program cut to top-10 pick is chronicled in the Sullivan Robey draft profile draft profile.

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