VFL Team of the Year Winger Robbie Fox has capped off his 2016 season, after being drafted to the Sydney Swans in yesterday afternoon’s rookie draft at pick 34.
The former Tasmanian, a product of the Burnie Dockers arrived at Coburg for 2015, having spent two years with EDFL club Aberfeldie across 2013 and 2014, playing in both it’s losing Grand Final sides and being named it’s ‘Most Improved’ player award in 2014. Fox previously played in the 2012 Burnie TSL Premiership side- having also represented his home state against the VFL that year, and with the Mariners in both under 18 competitions prior to that. Fox had also represented Tasmania in the Under 20’s Basketball team.
After a promising yet injury interrupted preseason in 2015, Fox made his senior VFL debut in round 2. After an injury re-occurrence, Fox returned to the Senior side for the Queens Birthday clash with the Northern Blues and stamped himself on the competition, where he was swung forward late in the game, kicking a crucial goal to seal an important win. Fox never looked back, playing in every game for the remainder of the season- finishing fourth in the best and fairest and making a spot on the halfback flank his own.
With holes in the Lions midfield for 2016, especially after Daniel Venditti’s sudden departure, Fox was moved onto the ball and it resulted in him playing some of his best footy- round one saw him take one of the marks of the season, and was consistently among the sides better players throughout the first half of the season, before injury derailed his finish to the season. It was still enough for him to earn Team of the Year selection and a fifth placing in the club Best & Fairest. He was awarded with ‘The Terrace’ supporter group, as it’s player of the 2016 season.
The athletic utility also managed an invite to the State Combine where he managed to perform the best of all VFL players, held in early October- increasingly enhancing his prospects.
Coburg General Manager Craig Lees was delighted with the outcome of yesterday’s result, following Luke Ryan’s drafting to Fremantle on Friday Night, who’s story can be viewed here.
“Robbie’s commitment to our program in the past two season has been first class. His professionalism and wiliness to learn about elite habits, has seen Robbie transition to becoming one of the better players within the VFL. His never say die attitude has now given him an opportunity to be listed with the Swans, we thank Robbie for his commitment to Coburg and we look forward to watching his progress at Sydney.”
Fox will also be joined by Ben Ronke from the Calder Cannons. The powerful hard-running midfielder won the Robert Hyde Medalist as it’s Best & Fairest winner, however also represented Coburg in two senior games late in the season, being among the best players upon both occasions. He was taken with the Swans’ first pick, pick 17.
It marks the Lions having four players drafted since the clubs operations reverted back to it’s traditional stand alone model, the most of any club within that time frame. For Coach Peter German- it adds to his long list of players that he has been involved with Coaching at State League level that have gone onto being drafted onto an AFL list, which now has over twenty players.
We wish Robbie all the best with his AFL aspirations for season 2017, and look forward to seeing him develop into a regular senior AFL Footballer.
