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Former WA state under 18's captain and current Brisbane Lions youngster Deven Robertson said the last few weeks have been a whirlwind experience, after making his AFL debut in round one against Hawthorn.
The 18 year old was a late inclusion for the match replacing Grant Birchall, recording 7 disposals at an empty MCG, due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
At half time in that game the season was officially put on hold effective at the end of the round, leaving the remainder of Robertson's inaugural AFL season in limbo.
The Perth product has since returned to Perth, to complete his own specific training program ahead of a return to Brisbane at a later date.
Robertson told Sports Drive that the last two weeks had been challenging for all players.
"It's been quite stressful to be honest," he said.
"The whole not knowing if the season would be going ahead, or what's going to happen, then to be told that not only the season is going ahead but being able to debut, it was quite a roller-coaster of emotions."
"For that to be cut down straight after the game with the news that the season is being postponed was quite shocking."
The 2019 Under 18's Larke Medallist reflected on his debut experience, his family there to watch his debut in the most unusual of circumstances.
"I found out on Thursday that I was playing and 'Birch' (Birchall) hadn't got up, which I was quite happy with because that meant I got to fly my parents over and they got to attend the game, which was special." Robertson said.
"It was a very weird feeling. There was a goal kicked and then before the ball was bounced there was 30 seconds of silence. It was hard for players to get in to the game, the adrenalin wasn't quite there. But it was still a dream come true."
Two days later Robertson was heading home along with fellow West Australian Jaxon Prior, uncertain as to when the season would re-commence.
"With the Government's guidelines and protocols now, we're pretty much locked up in our houses apart from getting out and going for a run," Robertson said.
"Doing gym is quite challenging, I don't have much equipment at home and obviously all the gyms are closed so trying to keep that strength up is quite challenging,"
"It's a very weird time at the moment, having just finished a pre-season and then pretty much going back in to another one is quite an interesting feeling, and not knowing when we will return to football is quite hard as well."
"Finding that motivation to stay fit is something we have talked about, we don't know if we are playing in two months, three months or twelve months, finding that motivation is going to be a challenge that we all face, we can't complain about we just have to overcome it."
Robertson was taken by the Lions with pick 22 in the 2019 draft, and is the nephew of West Coast Eagles premiership player and former captain Darren Glass.
IMAGE: The Courier Mail.