He has only been at Whitten Oval for six months but versatile key position Fletcher Roberts has already piled on eight kilograms to his previously light frame.

Through sheer hard work — multiple sessions in the gym daily, eating more and drinking protein shakes devotedly, Roberts has considerably bulked up and now faces a new set of challenges.

While Roberts still wants to add another six kilograms to his frame to compete with the bigger bodies in the AFL, he also has to adjust to running and carrying the extra weight without detracting from his natural athleticism and style.

Already setting a high standard for himself in the VFL, he has regularly featured among the best for VFL affiliate Williamstown playing a key defensive role despite being drafted as a forward.

“I haven’t played much in the backline in my time, I have been a forward most of my life but I enjoy the backline and enjoy trying to not let my opponent touch the ball,” he said.

“[VFL] is a big step up from TAC Cup - just the bigger bodies and a lot of older more mature blokes that keep going at the footy and you have to keep going with them.”

Celebrating his 19th birthday over the weekend with a solid performance against Bendigo, Roberts has demonstrated his ability to unselfishly spoil and shepherd as well as priding himself on his body positioning.

“I am developing my body playing down back and learning how to read the game at this sort of high intensity level - reading the game and reading the flight of the ball and playing on some bigger boys just to get used to senior footy,” he said.

“I feel that body positioning is one of my key strengths and that allows me to read the flight of the ball better and get the fist in against the opponent.”

The unassuming teenager is not certain if he will become a permanent fixture in defence or whether coaches are grooming him to be serviceable at both ends of the field but he is enjoying stepping up to the challenge. 

“I am just really focusing on doing the basic principles of defence and that should kick start my game and then I will start to get hands on the ball and go from there,” he said.

“I love playing my role for the team and doing what I need to do to help us win the game.

Overlooked in the 2011 AFL National Draft, Roberts went on to train with Melbourne for two weeks vying for a spot on their rookie list but was pleasantly surprised when the Bulldogs read out his name at pick 11 of the Pre-Season Draft.

Roberts has repaid the faith from Western Bulldogs recruiters having already been named as an emergency to the senior side twice this year.

While the battle for key defensive spots will only heighten as Lukas Markovic, Dale Morris and Tom Williams return from injury in the back end of the season, Roberts is buoyed by the support and advice he is receiving from the senior players.

“I have been working with Dale Morris a lot and he is a great role model - he plays very similar to me, can play on taller opponents as well and uses his body pretty well,” he said.

“I know that there are a lot of older key position boys that I am actually learning off and they are willing to help me out to become a better defender.”

“If everyone is pushing for selection then it makes the whole Club better.”

It isn’t just the Bulldogs defensive stocks that Roberts has been impressed with during his time at the Club, claiming the culture at the Bulldogs has been of acceptance, maturity and professionalism.

“The club culture here is really good and all the boys are very mature about the way they play their footy and the way they go about life,” he said.

“They all want to see out their lives after footy and really help you out whenever you need help.”

Robert’s first impressions of the Club were no doubt influenced by the drive to and from Whitten Oval each morning.

At the time of being drafted Roberts did not have his driver’s licence so skipper Matthew Boyd took it upon himself to transport the new recruit to and from the oval.

“You can’t go past Boydy he is such a good role model - he has been doing a lot for me early on in the season, driving me to training every so often because I didn’t have my licence,” Roberts said.

“He didn’t just drive me, he really got to know me and shared a lot about his family with me and I shared a lot about my family with him - so it was a good relationship.”

Now that Roberts has his driver’s licence there is no more bonding with the captain in transit, but those memories will forever reconfirm why he wants to be a Bulldog.