Matthew Lloyd’s special connection with new Essendon draftee

Matthew Lloyd has shared his special connection with new Essendon draftee Archie Roberts.

Roberts was taken by the Bombers with pick 54 in Tuesday night’s draft, having being named in the All-Australian team after playing in defence for Vic Metro this season.

Lloyd, who coached Roberts at Haileybury in year 10, says he was alerted to Roberts’ talents almost a decade ago.

“About eight years ago I was walking my daughter into school and she had a friend called Daisy,” he told Wide World of Sports before he was drafted to Essendon.

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“(Daisy’s grandmother) would take her to school and she told me that Daisy’s older brother is a very good footballer and (that I should expect to see) him at Haileybury playing (in the first team) and maybe even more than that.

“That was eight years ago when he was 10 years of age and his name was Archie Roberts.”

Lloyd said the 18-year-old rebounding defender also had traits similar to Geelong great Joel Selwood.

Photo: Morgan Hancock/AFL Photos via Getty Images