St Kilda defender Dylan Roberton will begin his 2019 comeback to the AFL with an electronic device inserted in his chest that monitors and corrects heart beat abnormalities.

Roberton, who collapsed on the field due to a heart irregularity last April and did not play again in 2018, has been using the small electronic device inserted as a precautionary measure throughout the pre-season.

St Kilda's Dylan Roberton. Credit:AAP

The Saints’ view is that Roberton is fine and has no ongoing issues with his heart, but that to be safe, the medicos have decided that he should retain the electronic device, which is designed not only to monitor his heart beat, but to correct abnormalities should they occur.

The Age is unaware of any other AFL player who has played with a similar heart device in the recent past, although a number of players have had heart-related issues, such as the cardiac arrhthymia that saw Roberton faint off the ball, with no contact with anyone, in what was seen as a disturbing incident.