Second-year Don Archie Roberts has continued his terrific start to 2025, named as the round five Telstra AFL Rising Star nominee.

The 19-year-old recorded career-highs with 28 disposals, eight marks and six tackles in the Club’s 39-point win over Melbourne in Gather Round, also racking up 391 metres gained out of defence.

After a late-season cameo in 2024 where he featured in the Bombers’ final four games off the back of consistent VFL output, Roberts has quickly become a staple of the senior line-up so far this season, averaging 22 touches and five marks per game across the opening month of the campaign.

Nominated in just his eighth career game, Roberts joins Nate Caddy as the Bombers’ most recent nominees for the award from their 2023 National Draft haul – at pick No.54 from that class, it appears the Club could’ve found themselves a steal in Roberts.

The youngster was thrilled to receive the nomination, citing it as welcome reward for effort after a year of finding his feet via the VFL program and adapting nicely to the elite level.

“It’s awesome to get the recognition and I’m very grateful,” Roberts said.

“Going back to defence (this year), I’m just working really hard on my one-on-one defending and letting my offence flow off the back of that.

“So many of the experienced guys like Andy McGrath, Mason Redman, Zach Merrett, Sam Durham and Nic Martin have really helped me, driven me a lot harder over the course of the pre-season and given me a lot of confidence to be the best player I can be.

“Sharing the news with my friends and family will be really exciting, I’m sure they’ll get around me and they’re looking forward to the next few games just as much as I am.” 

In addition to his aggression in defence - cutting across for five intercept possessions - Roberts showed just as much class with ball in hand, going at over 85 per cent disposal efficiency and even nabbing himself a goal assist when his pinpoint inside-50 entry found Jye Menzie in the dying seconds of the final term.

With the nomination, Roberts now goes into the running to become the third Bomber to win the Telstra Rising Star award, after the last wearer of his No.21 guernsey Dyson Heppell in 2011 and current Vice-Captain Andrew McGrath in 2017.

Roberts and the Bombers will be looking for a third consecutive win when they travel to Perth to face West Coast on Friday night.