The young Don who Tim Watson has “fallen in love with”

Essendon great Tim Watson has fallen in love with young Bomber Sullivan Robey.

Just two games into his career, the No. 9 pick from the 2025 draft has already caught Watson’s eye, with the club legend predicting big things for the 18-year-old.

Robey kicked two goals to go with 11 disposals in the tight loss to Gold Coast on Saturday, and that was when Watson saw enough signs to know the kid could be something special.

“I’m going to declare my man-love for somebody, I don’t do this regularly, but I’ve fallen in love with this young player,” Watson said on SEN Breakfast.

“He's an Essendon young player by the name of Sullivan Robey.

“He hasn't put up numbers that are jumping out at you, and there aren't lights going off everywhere, but it's the way that he goes about it, the way that he even celebrated his goal at the weekend, and it's what I think he's capable of doing and what he's going to become.

“He’s going to be, I think, a great, great player for the Bombers.”

Robey’s first AFL goal came at a huge time late in the third term, which put the Bombers up by two goals, and Watson loved seeing the excitement it brought for the club’s new No. 9.

“When you see a young bloke like that, he looks like he's just a little bit more exaggerated in his personality and his behaviours, and we haven’t had something (like that in a while),” Watson said.

“I think he’s excited, and maybe he’s an extrovert… but he loved the Bombers growing up.

“He just looks like he wants to be involved. He celebrated his own goal at the weekend, but I've noticed even in the two games that he's played so far, he celebrates everybody else's goals and their performances as well.”

Watson’s co-host, Garry Lyon, has also loved seeing a youngster take the field and really appear to be enjoying themselves as they live out a childhood dream.

“You're spot on, he looks like he's just living his childhood dream and appreciative of every second he gets to play,” Lyon added.

“As we all get older and get a bit, perhaps jaded, it's a great reminder to go and watch that young man play and go, this is what it's all about.”

Robey is set to play his third game for the Dons in Saturday’s huge Anzac Day clash against the Magpies at the MCG.