Saints defender Dylan Roberton is set for a remarkable return in 2020, according toย The Herald Sun.
The 28-year old suffered a career-threatening heart problem last year, collapsing during a game in round four before having a second scare after a pre-season game in March.
After sitting out this season, Roberton was flown to the United States to see a cardiologist to help him with his heart condition.
And the backman had reportedly been given the all clear to make a stunning comeback next season, subject to close monitoring, medication, and approvals from the AFL, club medical staff, integrity committee and the Saintsโ board.
Roberton said it was important to stabilise his unusually high heart rate.
โYour max heart rate is meant to be 220 minus your age or something. After the (pre-season) game it sort of got up to 280-300,โ Roberton said.
โItโs more my heart rate trying to settle back down from exercise.
โWhen Iโm actually up at the highest level and Iโm working really hard itโs fine. Itโs just as itโs trying to recover it sort of gets out of whack a bit.โ
The 128-gamer was had confidence in his body despite all the setbacks.,
โI feel like now Iโm on the medication, Iโve got the defib in, and it went off, so that sort of gives me confidence that it works,โ Roberton said.
โSo if anything does happen, Iโm sort of safe. Which is probably a strange way to look at it.
โThe word Iโve used a lot is frustrating that they canโt sort of figure it out.
โEvery time you go back you think they are (doctors) going to have an answer for you, but they are scratching their heads.
โHopefully with the year off theyโll be able to dig a bit deeper.โ
