In August 2023, afl.com.au reporter Cal Twomey released his second Phantom Form Guide ahead of the AFL National Draft that year.
At that stage, Archie Roberts was listed at No.16 in his rankings.
Already highlighted for his leadership qualities, an ability to break lines with his left foot and run-and-carry, and a natural competitiveness to his game, Roberts was even projected in the pick 15-25 range by the popular RookieMe Central site ahead of the draft.
Now in his second season as a Bomber after slipping to the 54th pick in that draft, Roberts is translating all of those superlatives to the highest level, cementing himself as a staple in an Essendon outfit that’s been forced to evolve across all lines in 2025.
Locking in a spot at half back, Roberts is shaping to be one of just four Bombers to have played in all 21 games this season when he lines up against the Saints on Friday night.
Over the course of this season, he’s averaging 24 disposals per game, ranked 13th among all defenders in the competition.
Roberts is the youngest defender within that top 20 for disposal averages and the most inexperienced with the exception of eight-gamer Tom McCarthy for West Coast.
Earning a Telstra Rising Star nomination back in Gather Round for his 28-touch effort against the Dees, Roberts’ early career form has seen him skyrocket into calculations for the award at year’s end.
Roberts is the highest ranked among all Rising Star nominees for disposals per game and currently leads all Dons players in total intercepts with 107 throughout the year.
The 19-year-old has only played 24 career games but already looks comfortable on the bigger stages – his 25 disposals on Anzac Day held him among the side’s best in defeat and he was dominant with 34 disposals in the Dreamtime win over Richmond earlier this season.
Under pressure, Roberts has often proven himself a cool head thanks to his evasiveness and balance over the footy – his kicking penetration has also allowed him the opportunity to be an important distributor, averaging four rebound 50s and nearly 330 metres gained per game.
These traits haven’t gone unnoticed for Senior Coach Brad Scott, who heaped on the praise for Roberts in a recent presser.
“Already at 19 (years of age), he’s a player we look to in a leadership role,” Scott said.
“That’s a real credit to him and we’re rapt to have him.
"He's been huge this season. He's played some really good footy, and that's pleasing, but I think that the thing that we're encouraged by even more is that he's already, you know, in his second year, a leader of our team.
"He's an extremely coachable young man, and talk about culture. He's a cultural driver for us, and the characteristics we're looking for in players and people, he personifies most of those."
Roberts’ performance against Richmond in round 18 was a shining light on a tough night for the Club, recording a game-high 11 intercept possessions from 31 disposals and using it at 87 per cent (89 per cent by foot) in defeat.
The youngster’s composure in traffic was crucial in driving an attempted late comeback against the Swans that ultimately fell just short a fortnight ago, before catching more eyes with a game-high 33 disposals in a largely combative team performance against Geelong most recently.
It’s become evident why Dyson Heppell was so willing to pass his No.21 down the line to the youngster, who’s going from strength to strength in the back half of the ground.
With three games remaining in the season, Roberts is one of four Dons (alongside Nate Caddy, Angus Clarke and Isaac Kako) in the running for the Telstra Rising Star, a year that’s also seen the Club blood 14 debutants so far.
